Nawazuddin Siddiqui sounds relieved when we speak to him and the actor agrees: “Main bilkul relaxed hoon.” Besides the success of his latest release, Haddi, he also saw his legal battle with ex-wife Aaliya reach an amicable stage recently. Aren’t personal battles mentally draining? “Definitely hote hain. Maine iss cheez (split from Aaliya) ke baare mein baat ki hi nahin, aur naa hi karna chahta hoon,” he replies.

It’s difficult to not let one’s troubled personal life affect their work. Ask if he faced a similar situation and the 49-year-old says, “Nahin, it [issues in personal life] didn’t affect my career. Aaj kal log samajhdaar hain, unhe pata hota hai kya chal raha hai [apki life mein]. People still respect me the same way as an actor. In fact, I have become more focused as an artiste.”

Meanwhile, Siddiqui is currently filming for his next film, Section 108, which, he says, “will have a theatrical release”. While Haddi saw him play the role of a transgender and it fetched him good reviews, the actor shares how playing the part wasn’t easy. “It was a difficult character because of the complexity. Character pe kaam karna padh raha tha taaki aisa naa lage ki transgender ka character hai, toh bas costume pehen li aur ho gaya,” he ends.

Last month, Nawazuddin Siddiqui announced kicking off the shoot of Section 108 in Delhi, by sharing a video from the film’s set. A month on, it’s a wrap on the crime thriller that sees the actor as a lawyer, with Regina Cassandra essaying the role of an insurance investigating officer. For Cassandra, who predominantly works in Tamil and Telugu cinema, Rasikh Khan’s Hindi directorial venture marks her pursuit of interesting stories, language no bar.

“Our shoot covered extensive locations in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram. Working with Nawaz sir, an actor I admire, felt like a dream fulfilled. He brought his unique perspective to the project, and I had plenty of insight to contribute as well,” says the actor.

In 2019, Cassandra made her Hindi film debut with Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. The actor went on to shine in Rocket Boys with her portrayal of Mrinalini Sarabhai, and Farzi. As she attempts her second Hindi feature film, she admits that working in her second language hasn’t been easy, but credits Siddiqui and Khan for being patient with her.

“I used to engage in discussions with Nawaz sir and Rasikh Khan before each scene. That made the process comfortable. I mentioned that it might take me some time because Hindi is my second language. But Nawaz sir reassured me, saying, ‘For you, it’s Hindi, and for me, it’s English. Each of us has our reason for taking time,’” recalls Cassandra.

Sharing screen space with him, she says, is as good as a masterclass in acting. “I loved learning from him, consciously and subconsciously picking up on cues.”

While actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been busy shooting his upcoming film Section 108, we have learnt that one of its presenters, Anees Bazmee, has withdrawn from the project owing to certain issues among the team. 

Confirming the same, Bazmee tells us, “I’m no longer associated with the project.” When asked about the reason for the same, the director adds, “I just thought of focusing on other projects.” It appears that Bazmee is completely focused on the third instalment of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise. 

However, a source close to the development reveals that there were certain problems that led to this decision. “Bazmee had put forth certain clauses that were difficult to meet. The entire team could not agree to it. Hence, the filmmaker decided to part ways. However, the decision was mutual, and there are no hard feelings. He even expressed a wish to collaborate sometime in the future,” the source tells us.

Another insider tells us that Bazmee was only the face of the film and not the producer, which was misunderstood by a lot of people. “When it’s a small-scale film, it’s good to have names like him because the process of getting good deals with OTT and satellite platforms is easier. The film sells because of the name. So, while he had not invested any money in the project, his taking a step back might affect the film later,” informs the insider. 

Bazmee’s team later issued a notice clarifying his stance. The notice that came through Complete Cinema read: “Our client is no longer presenting the film Section 108, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Regina Cassandra and others, and directed by Rasikh Khan. Our client is no longer part of the said film in any manner whatsoever. Through this notice, the public in general and all the concerned parties are informed about the same.”