10 years of Kick: When Salman Khan's heartfelt gesture melted Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Salman Khan and Nawaz in Kick

On the occasion of Kick’s 10th anniversary, we got our hands off an old interview of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who played the antagonist in the Salman Khan starrer. Nawazuddin’s portrayal of ‘Devi Gajra’, a gangster known for making a peculiar noise after every dialogue he mouthed in the film, grabbed the audience's attention, which eventually led to meme fest over the years.

In an old interview with The Times of India, Nawazuddin Siddiqui had expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response to his role in 'Kick', attributing much of the credit to Salman Khan.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, known for his versatile performances, revealed that he was deeply flattered by the appreciation his character received from audiences and critics alike.

Nawazuddin had said, “I thought people may not even notice me. Itna zyada appreciate karenge, aisa nahi socha tha. What can I say to this? It's a huge compliment. I am flattered. This brilliant response will help my small budget films. At a private screening, Salman warmly hugged me and appreciated my work. I owe this to him as it's because of Salman that I was able to reach out to a wider audience.”

The actor further highlighted the collaborative effort behind the scenes, acknowledging the director Sajid Nadiadwala for his vision and support throughout the filmmaking process. 'Kick', released in 2014, marked Nadiadwala's directorial debut and became a blockbuster at the box office, crossing the coveted Rs 200 crore mark. Today, the film completes 10 years of its release, celebrating every aspect of the film, cast, and the makers that contributed to the film’s success.