9 OF NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI'S MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ROLES BEFORE HE GOT FAMOUS

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is one of the best actors Bollywood has right now but it has taken 12 years for him to get recognised and reach where he is today. He is now known for his roles in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Kick, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Raees, but even before he made it big, he worked in films that received a lot of international acclaim despite not doing well commercially. Here's a list of nine such films that show Siddiqui's true potential.

1. The Bypass (2003)

The Bypass is a short film that follows the story of a corrupt police officer (Irrfan Khan) and a murderous bandit (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). The beauty of the film lies in the fact that it doesn't have a single dialogue. With the use of ambient sound and music, the emotions are portrayed beautifully. It received the Audience Award and that for Best Cinematography at the Kodak/BAFTA Short Film Showcase.

2. Elephant Boy (2005)

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Directed by Rene Mohandas and featuring Rajesh Kumar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sungeeta Gopal  in lead roles, Elephant Boy is about an Indian beggar boy thief with huge, deformed feet, trying to escape the harsh city life in Mumbai. Inspired by a photograph of a mountain, he embarks on a spiritual journey of penance and hope.  The movie won Best Foreign Film Award in Los Angeles Shorts Festival 2005 and also won Independent Award at Canadian International Film and TV festival 2005. It was also nominated for BAFTA Awards 2004 in the Best Short Film category.

3. Firaaq (2008)

Nandita Das’ directorial Firaaq portrayed the devastating impact of riots on Muslims in Gujarat. The film, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was also the acting debut of Nandita Das. Firaaq has won awards at many international film festivals like Asian First Film Festival (2008) and Dubai International Film Festival (2009). It has also won 56^th National Film Award (2009) for Best Art Direction and Best Editing.

4. Patang (2011)

The film, directed by Prashant Bhargava, is a poetic journey into the heart of the old city of Ahmedabad. Patang weaves together the stories of six people transformed by India’s largest kite festival. The film has seven prestigious film awards and was showcased at many International film Festivals. It was also an official selection for Roger Ebert's Film Festival in 2011.

5. Dekh Indian Circus (2011)

Mangesh Hadawale directorial Dekh Indian Circus, set in Rajasthan, is a story about the struggles of a family. Starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Virender Singh Rathod, the film depicts aspirations of those living in rural India. It won awards at 16^th Busan International Film Festival, 2011. For this film Nawaz also won the Best Actor Award at the 12^th New York Film Festival, 2012.

6. Mehfuz (2011)

Mehfuz was directed and written by Rohit Pandey and starred Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aditi Khanna. The 17-minute short film is a story of a man and how his usual journey changes as he notices a strange woman one night, wandering through the empty streets. The film bagged the second prize at the 8^th Dubai International Film Festival.

7. Miss Lovely (2012)

Miss Lovely is an Indian drama film directed by Ashim Ahluwalia which was set in the lower depths of Mumbai’s C-grade film industry. It follows the devastating story of two brothers who produce sleazy horror films in the mid-1980s. The film explores the intense and mutually destructive relationship between younger sibling Sonu played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his elder brother, Vicky (Anil George). The film won awards at Bombay International Film Festival and National Film Award for Best Direction. It was also premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2012 and Dubai International Film Festival 2012.

8. Liar's Dice (2013)

Liar’s Dice, directed by Geetu Mohandass, is the story of a young village woman, who embarks on a journey with her daughter, leaving her homeland in search for her missing husband. The film featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa and Manya Gupta bagged a special jury award at Sofia International film Festival. It also had a world premiere at Mumbai Film Festival 2013 and Sundance Film Festival.

9. Monsoon Shootout (2013)

Monsoon Shootout is a thriller directed by Amit Kumar, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Tannishtha Chatterjee. As heavy rains lash Mumbai, a cop on his first assignment is faced with a dilemma of choosing to shoot or not. Each decision pits him against a system that demands he compromise his morals and every choice has a price. The film was awarded at Hawaii International Film Festival 2013. It was also released at the Cannes Film Festival 2013 and Asia-Pacific Film Festival 2013.

Did we miss out on any roles? Let us know in the comments.