Daily Times

Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is playing the great Urdu short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita Das’s next, recently said that he feels lucky to get the opportunity to play the literary maestro.

“When I met Nandita Das at her home, she said that I was her Manto and she had already prepared her mind to cast me in the role,” Siddiqui told BBC Urdu.

Siddiqui claimed that Nandita thinks that he has seen and gone through a lot in his life but he cannot say the same about himself.

“I cannot say that about myself but yes, Manto was full of life and is as relevant today as he was in his time,” said the ‘Manjhi’ actor.

He added that he has been reading Manto for last 22 years and has a strong connection with his stories though he has little knowledge about how the writer spent his life.

“I have read his stories and remained a part of a play on his personality. His work not only forces you to think but can give you goosebumps,” said Siddiqui.

The versatile actor maintained that portraying the character of a talented soul like Manto requires a lot of effort and reading but he feels that Nandita Das has more responsibilities on her shoulder than him.

“I will have to understand him to bring the expressions and intensity Manto had on his face,” said the Freaky Ali actor.

Famous as a provocateur, Urdu playwright and author Saadat Hasan Manto is considered among the greatest writers of short stories in history.

Manto produced 22 collections of short stories, one novel, five series of radio plays, three collections of essays and two collections of personal sketches.