The best movies of Nawazuddin Siddiqui are Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015), Manto (2018), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) and Badlapur (2015). Each one shows a different side of an actor who went from small roles to leading men without changing his style. His recent films keep that run going.
Nawazuddin was born on 19 May 1974 in Budhana, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He studied chemistry, worked odd jobs, and graduated from the National School of Drama in New Delhi in 1999. Then came years of one-scene parts before 2012 changed everything.
That year he appeared in Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Talaash and Dekh Indian Circus, and won a Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards for that body of work. He later won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Lunchbox (2013) and an International Emmy nomination for Sacred Games.
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Quick facts about Nawazuddin Siddiqui
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 May 1974, Budhana, Uttar Pradesh |
| Training | National School of Drama, graduated 1999 |
| Breakthrough | Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) |
| Key award | National Film Award, Special Jury (2012 work) |
| Latest releases | Thamma (2025), Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025) |
The 5 best movies of Nawazuddin Siddiqui
1. Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
Anurag Kashyap’s two-part crime saga is set in the coal town of Wasseypur near Dhanbad. It follows a family feud that runs across three generations, with guns, politics and revenge driving every turn.
Nawazuddin plays Faizal Khan, the quiet, stoned son who grows into the most dangerous man in town. His slow, deadpan delivery made Faizal one of the most quoted characters in Hindi cinema. The film premiered at Cannes and is still the first title most fans recommend.
2. Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015)
Ketan Mehta’s film tells the true story of Dashrath Manjhi, a labourer from Gehlaur in Bihar. After his wife dies because the nearest town is too far across a hill, he spends years cutting a road through that hill with a hammer and chisel.
Nawazuddin carries the film almost alone, and Radhika Apte plays his wife. His line “Jab tak todenge nahi, tab tak chhodenge nahi” became a meme and a motivational slogan at the same time.
3. Manto (2018)
Written and directed by Nandita Das, Manto covers the most troubled years of Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto. It moves between Bombay and Lahore around Partition, his obscenity trials and his drinking.
Nawazuddin plays Manto with restraint, and the role won him Best Actor at the 2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. The film premiered at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section.
4. Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)
Another Anurag Kashyap film, this psychological thriller is inspired by Raman Raghav, the serial killer who terrorised Bombay in the 1960s. Nawazuddin plays Ramanna, a modern killer who models himself on the original.
Vicky Kaushal plays Raghavan, a drug-addicted police officer chasing him, and the film slowly shows how alike the two men are. Nawazuddin won Best Actor awards in Spain and at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for this role.
5. Badlapur (2015)
Sriram Raghavan’s revenge drama stars Varun Dhawan as Raghu, a man whose wife and son are killed during a bank robbery in Pune. Nawazuddin plays Liaq, the robber who is caught and jailed.
Liaq is crude, funny and frightening, and many viewers felt he stole the film. The role earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Badlapur grossed about Rs 103 crore worldwide on a budget of about Rs 16 crore, according to Box Office India.
Newer Nawazuddin Siddiqui films to add to your list
Thamma (2025)
Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar for Maddock Films, Thamma stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. Nawazuddin plays Yakshasan, the main villain, a betaal chained inside a cave. The film released on 21 October 2025 and grossed an estimated Rs 169.75 crore worldwide. It streams on Prime Video in India.
Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025)
This sequel to the 2020 Netflix hit brings back Nawazuddin as Inspector Jatil Yadav, now investigating the murders of a rich family. Honey Trehan directs again, with Chitrangada Singh, Revathi, Deepti Naval and Rajat Kapoor in the cast. It premiered at IFFI Goa and released on Netflix on 19 December 2025.
Critics praised his performance even where they found the pacing uneven.
Other Nawazuddin performances worth your time
If you have seen the top five, go back to the roles that built his reputation. In Kahaani (2012) he plays Khan, the rude intelligence officer who clashes with Vidya Balan. In The Lunchbox (2013) he is Shaikh, the chatty trainee who wins over Irrfan’s character. In Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) he plays Chand Nawab, the small-time reporter who helps Salman Khan.
On streaming, his Ganesh Gaitonde in Sacred Games (Netflix, 2018 to 2019) is still one of the most talked about characters in Indian web series.
Taken together, these roles explain why directors keep casting him as both hero and villain. For more on Hindi films and actors, see our Bollywood coverage and reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best movie of Nawazuddin Siddiqui?
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) is the film most critics and fans rank first. Manto and Manjhi: The Mountain Man are close picks for his best lead performance.
Which national award did Nawazuddin Siddiqui win?
He won the Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards for Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Talaash and Dekh Indian Circus.
What are Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s latest movies?
His latest releases are Thamma (October 2025, now on Prime Video) and Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (December 2025, on Netflix).
Who directed Raman Raghav 2.0 and Gangs of Wasseypur?
Both were directed by Anurag Kashyap, who has worked with Nawazuddin many times.
Sources: Wikipedia: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Wikipedia: Thamma, Wikipedia: Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, Wikipedia: Badlapur.
