Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

The Top 10 performances of Nawazuddin Siddiqui

With his new movie Tiku Weds Sheru premiered on Amazon Prime recently, we list the most brilliant performances of the gifted actor

The Top 10 performances of Nawazuddin Siddiqui

AFTER a decade of struggle, Nawazuddin Siddiqui delivered break out performances in 2012 that kick-started a remarkable rise for the self-made star.

He has become one of India’s most acclaimed and in demand actors, with a series of winning performances in diverse projects that have shown off his remarkable range. His new movie Tiku Weds Sheru premiered on Amazon Prime recently. To mark the new release, Eastern Eye put together his top 10 performances, listed in chronological order.


Top 10 Jethu in Dekh Indian Circus 150 Dekh Indian Circus

Jethu in Dekh Indian Circus (2011): The actor first got noticed for his award-winning performance in this rural drama, which delighted audiences on the international film festival circuit. The story of parents wanting the best for their children, saw him brilliantly portray the pain and angst of a mute father. He used hand gestures and facial expressions to perfection in a movie that would put him on the radar of multiple producers.

IB Officer A Khan in Kahaani (2012): This critically acclaimed smash hit thriller got Siddiqui noticed by wider cinema audiences. He portrays a special investigator, whose paths cross with a woman looking for her missing husband, who may be a rogue agent. He lights up each scene with his magnetic presence and showed quite comprehensively that he could add real depth to a commercial movie.

Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 & 2 (2012): The gangster drama set across two movies was another indicator that Siddiqui had star potential. He goes through an epic transition from devious to ruthless in the story set across different generations. He holds his own in movies loaded with top drawer performances and introduced Hindi cinema to a new kind of grey-shaded role.

Top 10 badlapur @LiveMint Badlapur

Badlapur (2015): The standard revenge drama was taken to a higher level by a villainous turn from Siddiqui. He received multiple award nominations for his powerful role, which added extra nuances to the standard Hindi film villain. The actor received acclaim right across the board for portraying a multilayered character, which combined brutality with a dangerously unpredictable demeanour.

Top 10 Raman Raghav nawazuddin siddiqui raman raghav Raman Raghav 2.0

Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016): Perhaps the most chilling character of his career, saw Siddiqui play a vicious serial killer being pursued by a corrupt cop. His character based on a real-life murderer cleverly combined pure evil with a seemingly normal exterior of an everyday man, who blends in with the crowd. The impact of his transformative role was such that it generated a whole load of internet memes.

Top 10 manto nawazuddin siddiqui 03 Manto

Manto (2018): The actor transformed himself to play Saadat Hasan Manto in this 1940s set drama. His performance in the critically acclaimed movie enabled him to take a deep dive into the legendary author and writer’s descent into darkness. And he does it effortlessly, showing that less can be more with great acting that captures the emotional instability of a writer during a turbulent time in India’s history.

Sacred Games (2018-2019): The actor’s power-packed performance as notorious gangster Ganesh Gaitonde added gravitas to this web series. He puts across real danger in his own subtle manner with a role that enabled him to show off different facets of a decidedly dark character, who combined evil with intelligence, in the neo-noir crime thriller adaptation of a best-selling book.

Top 10 Photograph Sanya Malhotra Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Photograph.18 1 Photograph

Photograph (2019): After delivering an award-winning performance in smash hit film The Lunchbox, Siddiqui teamed up with the same director Ritesh Batra for this unique role that was different from all the others he had played. He packed away the emotional intensity and grey shades to play a likeable street photographer, who finds a special bond in the most unexpected place. There was real warmth in his beautifully normal performance, which didn’t get the credit it deserved.

Top 10 Raat Akeli Hai 105 Raat Akeli Hai

Raat Akeli Hai (2020): The actor took on the challenging role of a no-nonsense police officer, who is called upon to investigate a murder and finds himself being strangely drawn to a suspect. Another magnificently multilayered performance saw him combine a brooding intensity with unpredictable actions and emotions that bubbled away under the surface. He creates real chemistry onscreen with Radhika Apte, as he has done with co-stars throughout his career.

Top 10 Serious Men Serious Men

Serious Men (2020): The satirical comedydrama, based on a best-selling book, was one of that year’s finest Bollywood films. The positive reviews were largely thanks to the effortless way chameleon like actor Siddiqui slipped into a multilayered role, which enabled him to be submissive, dominant, devious, and so much more. He used his body language, expressions, and voice perfectly in a role of a man using an ingenious con to get ahead in life. He made the role relatable to anyone held down by society, wanting to push back.

More For You

AI art

Two leading AI tools shaping digital art

Seedream 4.0 / Nano Banana

Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana fuel AI art craze themed around Bollywood

Highlights

  • Two leading AI tools shaping digital art, Seedream 4.0 and Google’s Gemini Nano Banana
  • Seedream 4.0 generates high-resolution imaginative visuals in multiple styles
  • Nano Banana transforms selfies into retro Bollywood-inspired portraits
  • Viral on Instagram, TikTok, and X, with global audiences engaging
  • Experts highlight data privacy, authenticity, and ethical concerns

AI-powered creativity is sweeping social media, with Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana AI capturing the imagination of users worldwide. Seedream 4.0 is designed for digital artists and hobbyists who want to create detailed, high-quality visuals in a wide range of styles, from realistic landscapes to abstract scenes. Nano Banana, on the other hand, allows users to turn selfies into 1990s Bollywood-inspired portraits, often featuring traditional South Asian attire and nostalgic retro backdrops.

A global viral phenomenon


Both tools have seen rapid adoption in 2025. Seedream 4.0 attracts those seeking versatile, high-resolution creative outputs. Nano Banana has gone viral for its playful, culturally resonant edits. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are flooded with creations from influencers, celebrities, and everyday users, showing the broad appeal of AI-driven art.

Keep ReadingShow less
Street Fighter

Street Fighter is now in production

Vidyut Jammwal steps into 'Street Fighter' arena as Dhalsim to face Hollywood heavyweights in brutal 1993 tournament

Highlights:

  • The live-action Street Fighter film will release in October 2026 via Paramount Pictures
  • Indian star Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim in the multicultural ensemble cast
  • The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and shot for IMAX
  • Set in 1993, the story follows Ryu and Ken returning for a high-stakes World Warrior Tournament

The upcoming Street Fighter movie is gearing up for a worldwide release in October 2026 under Paramount Pictures, and the buzz around Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter is already hyping fans. Bringing together a diverse international line-up, this live-action adaptation aims to reintroduce the beloved gaming saga to a new generation while tapping into the nostalgia of its 1990s arcade roots.

Street Fighter Street Fighter is now in production Instagram/streetfightermovie

Keep ReadingShow less
Charli XCX and   George Danie
Charli XCX stuns in sheer Danielle Frankel dress at second wedding to George Daniel in Sicily
Instagram/billboarditalia

Charli XCX stuns in sheer Danielle Frankel dress at second wedding to George Daniel in Sicily

Highlights:

  • Charli XCX and George Daniel celebrated their second wedding in Scopello, Sicily.
  • The pop star wore a sheer custom Danielle Frankel gown with pearls and chiffon layers.
  • Guests included Troye Sivan, Amelia Dimoldenberg and The 1975’s Matty Healy.
  • The couple first tied the knot in Hackney, London, in July.

Charli XCX embraced modern bridal fashion once again as she married George Daniel for the second time, this time in Sicily. The Brat singer chose a sheer Danielle Frankel gown for the romantic seaside ceremony, making her ‘Charli XCX wedding dress’ one of the most talked-about celebrity bridal looks of the year. The wedding followed their first civil ceremony in London earlier this summer.

Charli XCX and George Daniel Charli XCX stuns in sheer Danielle Frankel dress at second wedding to George Daniel in Sicily Instagram/billboarditalia

Keep ReadingShow less
Owen Cooper Emmy 2025

Emmy Awards 2025 winners list as Stephen Graham, Seth Rogen and Owen Cooper shine

Getty Images

Owen Cooper makes Emmy history at 15 as Seth Rogen and Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ sweep 2025 awards

Highlights:

  • Netflix’s Adolescence dominates with six wins including best limited series
  • Owen Cooper makes history as youngest male Emmy winner at 15
  • Seth Rogen’s The Studio sets comedy record with 13 trophies
  • Stephen Colbert gets standing ovation as cancelled Late Show wins talk series

Netflix drama Adolescence and Apple TV+ satire The Studio led the 2025 Emmy Awards winners list, with British star Stephen Graham, Seth Rogen and teenage newcomer Owen Cooper among the biggest names of the night. The ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre also saw The Pitt and Severance secure major prizes, while Stephen Colbert returned to thunderous applause despite his late-night show’s cancellation.

Owen Cooper Emmy 2025 Emmy Awards 2025 winners list as Stephen Graham, Seth Rogen and Owen Cooper shine Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Unaccustomed Earth Netflix

Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories

Getty Images

Siddharth and Freida Pinto lead Netflix’s adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ centred on scandalous affair shaking an immigrant community

Highlights:

  • Siddharth to co-star with Freida Pinto in Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth
  • Series based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning short story collection
  • John Wells and Madhuri Shekar leading the adaptation with Ritesh Batra directing two episodes
  • Cast includes Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, Sarayu Blue, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig

Actor Siddharth has joined Freida Pinto in Unaccustomed Earth, Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s celebrated short story collection. The new drama, combining elements of family conflict with romance, marks Siddharth’s latest international outing. With Pinto leading the cast, the series promises to bring Lahiri’s themes of migration, love, and identity to a global audience.

Unaccustomed Earth Netflix Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less