Biography
Who is Nawazuddin Siddiqui?
Early life and education
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was born on May 19, 1974, in the town of Budhana within the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India. He grew up mostly in Uttarakhand and was the oldest among eight siblings. His family background is that of a Muslim zamindari family of Lambardars.
Before pursuing acting, he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar. He spent one year working as a chemist in Vadodara. Later, he moved to Delhi to find new employment opportunities, which eventually led him toward the performing arts after seeing a stage play.
How Nawazuddin became famous
After studying at the National School of Drama, he moved to Mumbai in 1999. His early film appearances included small roles in Sarfarosh, Shool, and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. He struggled for work for several years, even living in a shared apartment in Goregaon while conducting acting workshops to survive.
He achieved significant recognition through his role in the 2004 film Black Friday and later in the 2012 Gangs of Wasseypur films. His performance in the 2010 film Peepli Live also brought him wider fame. Critic Roger Ebert even praised his work in the film Patang, noting how it changed his acting style.
Career highlights and awards
Nawazuddin Siddiqui earned a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013 for his work in The Lunchbox. He also appeared in high-profile films such as Kick, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Raman Raghav 2.0. His acting in the 2018 film Manto earned him the Best Actor award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Beyond cinema, he starred in the Netflix series Sacred Games and the British production McMafia. He has received several honors, including a National Film Award Special Jury Award and an Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. His recent projects include the 2025 film Thamma and the 2026 production Main Actor Nahin Hoon.
Family and personal life
He has been married twice during his life. He was previously married to a woman named Sheeba and later married Anjali, who is also known as Aaliya Siddiqui. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter, though Aaliya announced she was seeking a divorce in May 2020.
Currently, he resides in Mumbai alongside his younger brother, Shamas Nawab, who works as a film director. When he is not filming, he often spends time at his farm located in his hometown of Budhana.
Birthday and age
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was born on May 19, 1974, which makes Nawazuddin 52 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Nawazuddin shares the date with 27 other famous people.
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