Mumbai: Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui reminisced the time when he was axed from Kamal Haasan's Hey Ram. He stated that although there have been many such instances from his earliest days in the film industry when his roles were removed from projects, Hey Ram hurt the most because of how much he respected Kamal.
In an interview with a leading portal, he said, "There were many incidents when I did small roles and then the role was edited out. But the one incident that stays with me involves one of my idols Kamal Haasan. I was his Hindi dialogue coach on his film Hey Ram (2000) which he directed and also played the lead. When Kamalji offered me a small role in Hey Ram I was as excited as a child. He is one of my idols alongside Dilip Kumar, Naseeruddin Shah, Anthony Hopkins and Denzel Washington. I’ve seen each and every film of theirs repeatedly."
READ |Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star with Elnaaz Norouzi in Sangeen
"It was actually a substantial role. I was supposed to be this victim of a mob attack whom Kamalji rescues.I was excited about this opportunity to share screen space with my idol.” But when the role was removed from the final film, Nawaz said he ‘wept bitterly’ and remembers Shruti consoling him. But, the actor said, he holds no ill will. “How could I be resentful? Kamalji is such a complete artiste with his knowledge stretching far beyond.Unka toh mujhe naam bhil lene mein hichkichaahat hoti hai (I hesitate to even say his name)," he continued.
On the work front, the Motichoor Chaknachoor actor has appeared in the long-delayed Ghoomketu, Honey Trehan’s murder mystery Raat Akeli Hai, and Sudhir Mishra's Serious Men.
