Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s daughter, Shora, recently took a significant step in her acting journey by participating in the musical Beauty And The Beast at the West End Stage - Theatre Summer School in London. The proud father shared a picture of her post-performance on Instagram. Last month, Siddiqui had dropped her off in London, where she embarked on her own acting journey.

Reflecting on his own acting training at the National School of Drama in Delhi, Siddiqui shares how seeing his daughter get the opportunity to train internationally fills him with pride: “Of course, I feel proud. Every workshop and training institute teaches you things you might not have known. If she’s learning from such a prestigious institute, it’s only going to benefit her career.”

The 54-year-old actor is a firm believer in the necessity of training for actors. “Mera belief hai training par. It’s not like you just wake up and become an actor. If someone wants to be a serious actor, they’ll do some kind of workshop, big or small, or engage in some serious work. Born actor jaisa kuch nahi hota. Har cheez ki expertise hoti hai — main aapka kaam nahin kar sakta, aap mera kaam nahi kar sakte. Uske liye training ki zarurat hai,” he asserts.

When asked what he wants Shora to learn from his acting experience, Siddiqui’s response is clear: “nothing”. “She’s viewing the world through her own perspective, and that’s important. Her interpretation of life should be her own. My experience, training and life are different,” he ends.