The International Emmy-nominated Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has signed an American independent film Laxman Lopez. The film is directed by Mexican-American filmmaker Roberto Girault known for El Estudiante (2009), Los Arboles Mueren de Pie (2015), and La Leyenda del Diamante (2017). According to reports, the shooting will begin later this year.
Laxman Lopez Will Take Place in the US
The shooting of Christmas-themed Laxman Lopez will take place entirely in the US. New York-based Imagination Infinite Productions is leading the project. Its producer is Lalit Bhatnagar, also known for writing and co-producing Little Darlings. Information about the rest of the cast and crew will be available once the production begins.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is Excited about The Film
Siddiqui has expressed his excitement for the movie, saying the name Laxman Lopez made him “curious”. The script of a Christmas-themed movie instantly grabbed his attention. Siddiqui said it would be a very different experience from what he was offered in Bollywood all these years. He said that this was the kind of challenge he had always yearned for. He also praised the director, saying that Girault has shown his “power and command” over the camera, which can bring out new sides to an actor.
Director’s First Choice
The director Girault said that the script of Laxman Lopez was close to his heart. He claimed that the story transition and challenges faced by the lead actor would certainly intrigue the viewers. Girault also acknowledged that when he searched for Laxman, his mind automatically navigated towards Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He was a massive fan of Siddiqui’s work and believed this new role would reveal a “lesser-known vulnerable side” to him.
Career Highlights
It’s no surprise that a foreign director has chosen Nawazuddin Siddiqui for a film targeted at a global audience. He is one of the most admired and prolific actors in Bollywood. Siddiqui made his Bollywood debut in 1999 with a small role in Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh. For almost a decade Indian film industry kept offering him nearly negligible roles.
He kept struggling for many years while living in shared flats. At one point in 2004, he had no money for rent, which led him to seek help from a senior at the National School of Drama (NSD), from where he graduated. The guy allowed him to stay at his place if he cooked food for him. Siddiqui continued his struggle in Bollywood with more small roles until his role as a journalist in Peepli Live (2010) got him widespread attention. Then there was no stopping the actor.
His 2012 film Patang: The Kite became an international success, bringing him the “Thumbsup Trophy”. His fame further skyrocketed after Gangs of Wassaypur (2012), Manjhi – The Mountain Man (2015), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), and Manto (2018). Siddiqui’s performance in the Netflix series ‘Sacred Games’ has been praised by Paulo Coelho himself. He also appeared in the American-Bangladeshi film No Land’s Man in 2021. Besides Laxman Lopez, Siddiqui will be seen in Heropanti 2, Jogira Sara Ra Ra and Tiku Weds Sheru in 2022.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui also appeared at the 75th Cannes Film Festival with many other Bollywood celebrities.
