Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who has four films lined up in 2021, thinks cinema and OTT can coexist but adds the reach of OTT is immense, and the viewership for actors and ‘stars’ is the same
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 31, 2021)

After a terrific 2020 with releases such as Raat Akeli and Serious Men, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is gearing up to shoot as many four films in the coming months. He is in London shooting for his next film Sangeen, and admits that cases are rising daily there but they are shooting in a secure environment and taking all precautions.

“Shooting during Coronavirus times is tough. I was a bit scared and wondered how things would be,” says the actor, who will fly to Lucknow next to shoot Jogira.

“Iss saal filmein hi karni hai. Abhi OTT pe koi series nahin hai. I am glad to be doing films of different genres. I have given a lot of thought to my next projects,” he shares.

With the OTT boom and a number of mainstream actors opting for original OTT films, including Anil Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha, ask him how he thinks this move will affect the experience of cinema and movie-making business and the actor replies, “I think cinema and OTT can coexist as both platforms are great in their own ways. OTT is liberating and democratic. Wahan monopoly nahin chalti, jo screens pe hoti hai. There is audience that wants to watch different kinds of films but when such movies release in limited number of theatres, it gets difficult for them to reach its audience. Ek bakwas film bhi agar 5,000 screen pe release ho toh, woh bhi ₹20-30 crore banayegi first day par. On OTT, the viewership for us and a superstar is the same. The viewer decides which movie they want to watch. I am glad the star-system has been levelled to some extent.”

Since his breakout role, Gangs of Wasseypur in 2012, Siddiqui has proved his talent and versatility in many roles and web shows. Has he thought which direction he wants to take his career, now? “I don’t want to go into any other direction. Yehi theek se kar loon, bas wahi kaafi hai. Even today, I feel the same nervousness and insecurity I felt in my first film. And I want to remain like that. I don’t want to change myself or think I am bigger than a character or film,” he says.

While web censorship is a topic that refuses to go away. Siddiqui feels there should not be any censorship. “There could be a certification to inform audiences about the content. Har cheez pe censorship thodi na hoti hai,” he opines.