Throwback: When Nawazuddin Siddiqui was happy to be compared to Italian legend Marcello Mastroianni | Hindi Movie News

Nawazuddin Siddiqui had garnered high praise from foreign critics for his role in Nandita Das’s film, Manto. The Hollywood Reporter lauded his performance as the rebellious writer-thinker, saying that Nawaz transformed in an astounding performance as the writer and delivered Manto’s talent, wit, self-destructiveness, and tragic gravity in a manner that was like a punch in the stomach. The review further likened him to the iconic Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, calling Siddiqui riveting and captivating, even during Manto’s downward spiral of alcoholism.

Nawaz was thrilled to be compared to Mastroianni and expressed his admiration for the actor’s skill and naturalism on screen. Regarding his performance in Manto, Nawaz had stated in a previous interaction that he tried to keep his interpretation of Saadat Hasan Manto quiet, restrained and controlled. This was because Manto never raised his voice but always managed to get people to listen to him.

Furthermore, during his stay in Rome, where he shot Tannishtha Chatterjee’s film, Roam Rome Mein for one-and-a-half months, Nawaz visited the museum dedicated to Marcello Mastroianni. When asked about his favourite actors, Nawaz said that he admires performances rather than actors, citing Tony Leung‘s performance in the Hong Kong film In The Mood For Love, Michael Keaton’s mind-blowing portrayal in Birdman, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s unpredictable performance in The Wolf of Wall Street as his favourites.