'Manjhi' was the toughest role of my life: Nawazuddin Siddiqui

A man, armed with a hammer, takes on a mountain – it’s the kind of Sisyphean tale you expect in myths and legends. But Dashrath Manjhi is a real man and his story is anything but fiction. At 34, Manjhi decided to break a mountain down, single-handedly. Why? Because that mountain had come between his beloved wife and the medical attention she’d desperately needed.

For director Ketan Mehta, Manjhi’s story embodies “triumph of the human will” and it inspired him enough to make Manjhi - The Mountain Man. While his recent films have been less tethered to reality, Mehta is one of the few directors who does have the ability to translate social issues into good cinema, as his older works like Bhavni Bhavani and Mirch Masala prove. “My instinctive response after reading newspaper reports about Dashrath Manjhi was that this story needs to be told,” said Mehta. “On one hand you have love. On the other hand, you have determination. In these cynical times you need an inspiring story.”

As far as audiences go, perhaps the most compelling reason to see Manjhi – The Mountain Man is its hero, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Gracious, polite and unaffected, Siddiqui is today one of Indian cinema’s brightest stars. From arthouse titles like Liar’s Dice to blockbusters like Kick, he’s been playing the filmi field. “Where’s the fun in staying in your comfort zone?” he said, when asked about the variety of roles he’s played.

Siddiqui described his role in Manjhi as one to which he relates personally. “I can draw much from Manjhi because I understand his relentless struggle,” said the actor, “I’ve seen it in my personal life too. It became my way of connecting to the character.”

The road from Budhana to Bollywood was long and arduous for Siddiqui, but compared to what Dashrath Manjhi endured, it was paved and smooth. Mehta shot the film in Bihar, over 45 gruelling days, near the place where Manjhi’s cursed mountain once stood as an obstacle. The crew had to travel an hour and half into the village every day and lug the equipment to the set they’d built. “It’s one of the most backward areas I’ve seen post-Independence,” said Mehta. “Horizon to horizon, it was complete darkness after sunset. No light, no electricity, and only women and children in sight. The men were outdoor working all the time.”

If the circumstances were challenging, then so was the role for Siddiqui. “Manjhi was the toughest role of my life,” said the actor. “You have to understand that this man broke a mountain in 22 years, with just a hammer. And all for love. In such a tough, rural landscape, somewhere in middle of Bihar, it’s difficult to keep reminding yourself of his mindset.”

Siddiqui spent a month in the village, learning the villagers’ way of life and knowing the real Dashrath. “It’s important to give references to your audience,” he said. “I found out in my research that before the death of his wife, Dashrat was a 5 foot-something loud speaker. Full of life.” This formed the basis of the Manjhi that Siddiqui plays and whom you can glimpse in the first part of Manjhi – The Mountain Man’s trailer.

As a man in love, Siddiqui is all swagger and confidence, and his muse Radhika Apte is the perfect foil. “It’s important to bring that element of his personality on screen. This film is a journey, not an anecdote,” said Siddiqui.

This is the first time Siddiqui will be seen acting opposite Apte and he’s full of praise for Apte. “Oh she’s fantastic,” he said. “She’s a delight to work with, so talented. She has no inhibitions. I didn’t feel like I was working with a female co-star because she never gets conscious.”

Siddiqui’s next release is the big-ticket Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, Raees. Is he nervous? “Honestly? I’m not,” he said and skillfully turned the conversation back to Mehta’s film. “Manjhi, on the other hand, has given me so much pressure and grief during the shoot, but I’ve fallen in love with the end result.”

When we inform him that Manjhi – The Mountain Man trailer went viral on Youtube with almost 5 million views, his face lit up. “If even half the number of people who viewed the trailer come and watch our film, it’ll be a hit,” he said.

Manjhi - The Mountain Man will release on August 21, 2015.