Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; June 8, 2014)

MEHROONISA SIDDIQUI ON HER SON NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI
I am proud of my son’s journey from our native place Budhana in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai. After his Intermediate studies, Nawaz went to study in Haridwar, as we did not have higher educational facilities in our village. No one from our family expected him to become an actor. When he was young, I thought we will make him a doctor, but then my husband and I noticed he was more inclined towards cinema and acting. My husband is a film buff and we never stopped him from pursuing his dreams.

As a mother, I used to get worried thinking about the struggle he was going through, but I was confident that he would make it big. He passed from the National School of Drama and it is his passion and hard work that has got him here. Having lived in a village all my life, I don’t understand much of his work. But I know he has the talent and ability to rise and shine. Initially when I used to go to Dehradun where my other kids were studying every time I would come across a film poster or cross a theatre I would think that one day my son’s poster will also be up here. I used to spend sleepless nights thinking about Nawaz.

For me, he is still a baby and I am very proud that he is still humble and grounded. I am thankful to Allah for giving me a son like him. Not only me, our entire family is very proud of him. His behaviour and attitude towards us has not changed. I have seen some old films and now I only watch his films. Once, I remember when I went to watch his film where he was beaten, I actually shouted in the cinema hall because he was being beaten up. I knew it was acting but that reaction was very instant. Nawaz is the eldest of seven siblings and he has been a mentor and friend to all of them.