Nawazuddin says Bollywood has ‘no friendships’

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s journey in

Bollywood

is nothing short of inspiring. From struggling for years to landing breakthrough roles, he’s delivered powerful performances in films like 'Gangs of Wasseypur,' 'The Lunchbox,' and 'Manto,' and series like 'Sacred Games.'In his latest chat with SCREEN for its Creators X Creators segment, Nawazuddin didn’t hold back. From calling out the fake friendships in Bollywood to criticizing the rise of untrained actors, Nawazuddin shared his honest take on what really happens behind the scenes in the Hindi film industry. As he turned 50, the actor looked back at his long and often tough journey, opening up about the industry's insecurities, lack of unity, and how real talent often gets ignored.‘No real friends in Bollywood’Siddiqui made it clear that he doesn’t believe there are real friendships in the film industry. “With time, it’s one person today, and there will be someone else tomorrow. It’s on the basis of need or benefits. The friendships that I also have in life are from old times, not from here."

He believes that most relationships in the industry are built on personal gain, not loyalty or genuine connection. “That happens because there is an insecurity in every actor here; hence, there’s no strong friendship or loyalty towards each other. The industry is not strong and united in that way. There is a club that stays separate; they aren’t together."

‘Only here’ untrained actors are given big roles.Apart from fake friendships, Nawazuddin also pointed out how Bollywood gives major acting roles to people who aren’t properly trained. “An actor who isn’t that reliable… they are made to act somehow; this happens only in our industry. Other industries only need professional and trained actors; they don’t allow them to come in otherwise."Still focused on strong storiesDespite his concerns, Nawazuddin continues to work in films that aim to tell powerful stories. He was recently seen in 'Costao,' a crime drama based on the real-life story of Costao Fernandes — a Goa customs officer from the 1990s who gave up everything to stop a major gold smuggling racket. The film showed his brave journey and tough choices, and Nawazuddin brought a lot of depth to the role. Next up, the actor is reportedly shooting in Lucknow for the sequel to 'Raat Akeli Hai.' He will be returning as Inspector Jatil Yadav, a character that received a lot of praise in the original film.