Nawazuddin Siddiqui reveals why he initially rejected Sacred Games role- 'Ignored it for three or four months'

Nawazuddin Siddiqui reveals why he initially rejected Sacred Games role- 'Ignored it for three or four months'

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema, recently revealed how his iconic role in Sacred Games came to him—though not without hesitation.

Known for breathing life into complex characters, Nawazuddin has often been compared to the late Irrfan Khan for his intensity and unmatched craft. Yet, the role of Ganesh Gaitonde, which became one of the biggest turning points in his career, was not an easy “yes.”

In a recent podcast, Nawazuddin shared that when producer Vikramaditya Motwane first approached him, he initially dismissed the offer. He said, "Motwani approached me first. I told him, ‘I've struggled so much to finally get into films—and now you want me to do a TV serial again? I don’t want to.’ But he said, ‘Nawaz, this isn’t a TV serial. It’s OTT. It’ll be watched all over the world.’ Honestly, I didn’t believe him. Motwani is a very to-the-point guy—unless there’s drama, we actors don’t really get convinced. I ignored it for three or four months. Eventually, Motwani told Anurag, ‘You convince him."

"Anurag, after a drink or two, sat me down and said, ‘Just do it. It’s a great character.’ I finally said, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ They told me this could even surpass Gangs of Wasseypur. I said, ‘Okay, let's do it.’" He further added.

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Interestingly, at that time, Nawazuddin had no idea what Netflix or OTT even meant. "But truthfully, I had no idea what Netflix was, or what OTT even meant—none of us did. It was all happening for the first time. Then we started shooting—and it felt like we were making a film. That’s when I thought, Yes, this is something big."

The rest is history. His menacing portrayal of Gaitonde not only made Sacred Games one of India’s most successful web series but also cemented Nawazuddin’s place as a global acting powerhouse.

On the work front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui will next be seen in Raat Akeli Hai 2 and Thama, further adding to his diverse body of work.