Nawazuddin Siddiqui Opens Up About Working as Kamal Haasan’s Dialogue Coach for ‘Abhay’
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/20th July 2024
In a revealing interview, Nawazuddin Siddiqui shared a fascinating story from his early career, highlighting his unique role as a dialogue coach for the legendary Kamal Haasan. Siddiqui, who is known for his versatile acting skills, disclosed that he worked with Haasan on the 2001 film Abhay, also known as Aalavandhan in Tamil, during a period of unemployment.
Siddiqui, speaking to Filmfare, recounted how he came to work with Haasan not as a co-actor, but in the capacity of a dialogue coach. He explained that his involvement in the project was facilitated by a senior from the National School of Drama (NSD), who introduced him to the opportunity. At the time, Siddiqui was between jobs and agreed to the role out of necessity. His primary responsibility was to ensure the accuracy of Haasan’s Hindi dialogues.
Reflecting on the experience, Siddiqui described how the collaboration with Haasan was both challenging and enlightening. He recalled a particularly memorable incident where Haasan asked him to perform a monologue from the play Tughlaq. Haasan, impressed by Siddiqui’s performance, requested that he deliver the same monologue in ten different styles. Siddiqui admitted that this request was daunting, revealing, “No! How could I do it in 10 different ways? I was lost. I could do it in three, maybe four…” He noted that Haasan’s exceptional control and versatility, attributed to his background in dance, made this task seem effortless for the veteran actor.
Despite his role in Abhay, Siddiqui also mentioned his brief involvement in Haasan’s historical epic Hey Ram. Although his scene was eventually cut from the final film, the experience was a significant one for Siddiqui, reinforcing his respect and admiration for Haasan.
Siddiqui’s experience with Haasan had a profound impact on him, shaping his approach to acting and deepening his appreciation for Haasan’s craft. Even as Haasan’s recent film Indian 2 faced a less favorable reception at the box office, Siddiqui remains a staunch admirer of the actor’s legacy and contributions to cinema.
Siddiqui’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes experiences of working with one of Indian cinema’s most revered figures and highlight the enduring respect he holds for Kamal Haasan.
