Nawazuddin Siddiqui was one of the first Indian actors to jump on the streaming business when it started to dominate in India. His role as Ganesh Gaitonde in Sacred Games, which received international acclaim, prompted everyone to sit up and take notice that this medium is here to stay. But then, after some time, came his statement that he wouldn’t work on OTT platforms any more. He felt that the web had become a “dumping ground for redundant shows”.

However, it has recently come to light that as many as eight of the actor’s films are not finding buyers on streamers, and the makers do not want to go the theatrical route. When asked about it, the 48-year-old tells us, “Pata nahin kahaan se yeh issue aaya! Meri kaun si picture ko OTT mana kar raha hai? Mujhe toh pata nahi yeh news kahaan se aayi. Meri films ready nahi hui hain: Haddi is still being shot; I have finished shooting for Afwaah; now it is in the post-production stage, and the work on it will take at least a year or six to seven months. Besides that, dubbing work for all my films is pending, which also includes Jogira Sara Ra Ra. Tiku Weds Sheru will come to a leading OTT platform; I don’t know when, though.”

But where are these rumours coming from, we wonder? Does he have any rivals who might be involved? “Main aisa aadmi hoon jo apna ghar bech ke bhi film banna lunga. They won’t get anything by pulling me down. I am a stubborn person. I will make my own films,” ends the actor.