Nawazuddin Siddiqui reflects on Muslim identity and career, mentions Anupam Kher's respect for Naseeruddin Shah

Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently expressed gratitude for the acceptance and love he receives from the public in India, regardless of his Muslim identity. Responding to queries about any impact on his career due to his identity, Nawazuddin highlighted that he has not experienced such obstacles, despite differing opinions within the film industry. He highlighted the importance of education for the Muslim community, drawing from his personal experience as the first in his family to achieve a graduate degree.
During an interview on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Nawazuddin Siddiqui revealed his disinterest in politics and cricket, despite having portrayed political figures on screen.When questioned about his role as the late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray in a biopic, Nawazuddin expressed his satisfaction with portraying political characters in films. He acknowledged receiving some backlash from the Muslim community for playing Thackeray but not a lot.
In response to queries about potential discrimination between Hindus and Muslims in the film industry, Nawazuddin Siddiqui denied any such claims. He lauded Bollywood for its inclusive environment, citing Anupam Kher's deep respect for Naseeruddin Shah's acting abilities as an example of mutual admiration across religious boundaries. Nawazuddin emphasised that he personally has never encountered discrimination based on his Muslim background.
Nawazuddin said, “I’m a part of this industry. My country is beautiful. The love and respect I get here, I wouldn’t get anywhere else. I’m overjoyed to be among common people because of the love they shower on me, regardless of their own background. You wouldn’t see this anywhere else in the world. I’ve travelled to the interiors of our country; I don’t know what they show in the news, but the people of our country are beautiful, they’re innocent.”