I have no problem playing a gay: Nawazuddin Siddique

Even as reports surface that National Award-winning director Hansal Mehta of Shahid fame has Nawazuddin Siddique in mind to play a gay character in his next venture, the actor himself admits that he’s keen to take up the role.

He may appear to be an introvert in real life but seasoned actor Nawazuddin Siddique doesn’t mind ‘coming out of the closet’ on screen. So, even as reports surface that National Award-winning director Hansal Mehta of Shahid fame has Nawaz in mind to play a gay ­character in his next ­venture, the actor himself admits that he’s keen to take up the role.

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"Yes, we’re in talks and I’m very keen to play the role ... I have no problem playing a gay character, and in any case, I have been wanting to work with Hansal Mehta for a long time," says the 39-year-old Kahaani and Gangs of Wasseypur fame actor. Mehta’s film revolves around a gay character’s journey from self-denial to social ostracism, dealing with the effects of the ­article 377 on relationships.

Like a host of his other industry colleagues, Nawaz himself isn’t quite in support of the article that criminalises gay sex. "No, I don’t think it’s right to criminalise it," says the Muzzafarnagar-born-and-bred man, who moved to Mumbai to pursue to acting passion, over two decades back. So, isn’t he apprehensive that his folks back home might be miffed seeing him portray a gay character? "Why will they be miffed?" asks Nawaz, adding, "Homosexuality is not new ... it has been there for ages ... yes, even in remote villages ... there’s nothing wrong or abnormal about it!".