Nawazuddin Siddiqui - A Man Of Few Words

A man of few words, Nawazuddin Siddiqui raised the bar with his acting skills. Now, he is ready to up the ante with his new endeavours.

- Mrinalini Singh

No Bollywood actor has ever associated themselves with poker. What led you to take this decision of collaborating with PokerStars India?

I have been very curious about poker for a while now because it looks easy to learn and understand but requires skill, spontaneity, wit, and a good presence of mind to fully master it, which will keep me motivated while I continue to learn the game. PokerStars India has a brilliant global lineage and I am proud to be associated with one of the most popular and trusted poker brands in the world. It offers players a large range of tournaments and games, excellent 24-hour customer support, and top software and security. They really stand out for me.

The game is mostly condemned as illegal by a lot of people. Why do you think this is the case? What would you like to do on your part to change this misconception?

Gambling is illegal in India, but poker is a skill-based game. It involves many calculations, observing your fellow players’ behaviour and interpreting a lot of information to make the best decisions. Of course, variance sometimes means that you might lose some hands even with good cards, but overall if you choose the right strategy then it is possible to maximise your chances of being successful. I believe that poker is a fascinating game, always offering something new to learn and I am looking forward to showing people this as I continue my poker education journey.

From Sarfarosh to Manto to Thackeray, you’ve done some phenomenal and diverse roles. How would you encapsulate your acting journey?