Nawazuddin Siddiqui Reveals Struggles of Playing Ramanna in Raman Raghav 2.0

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, admired for his raw realism and unmatched intensity, recently opened up about one of the toughest performances of his career — playing Ramanna in Raman Raghav 2.0.

The actor shared how the psychological complexity of the role pushed him to his limits, both physically and mentally.

Often compared to the late Irrfan Khan for his range, Siddiqui’s chilling portrayal of a merciless murderer in Anurag Kashyap’s 2016 thriller remains unforgettable.

Reflecting on his preparation, the actor explained why this role stands out as one of the most difficult he has ever undertaken.

“When I landed that role, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. It wasn’t the sort of role you could simply turn up and do nonchalantly. It required serious mental and emotional preparation,” Siddiqui said.

Preparing for Ramanna

To prepare for the role, Siddiqui secluded himself in a resort in Lonavala for nearly a week.

He revealed, “Just to believe one line from the script: ‘I eat, drink, sleep, and kill. It doesn’t concern me. I don’t feel pain, even. You murder in the name of humanity or religion — I murder just because.’ That was very difficult for me to believe. Because I am not that individual. I’ve never even raised a hand against anyone, never chastised someone. And I had to become a killer without pity.”

He added that he could not merely pretend. “I knew that I couldn’t pretend — I needed to believe it, though just for those moments. Only after I made that internal change did I come back to Mumbai to shoot. I went on set believing I could do it, at least for those seconds, and it was one of the toughest roles that I’ve ever done,” he said.

The Impact of Reel Life on Real Life

Siddiqui also revealed the price of diving so deep into a role. He explained, “And look, when an actor is really committed to their work — when they’re open and committed — that level of intensity carries over onto screen.

People sometimes wonder, ‘Why do actors go so deep?’ But that depth, that seriousness, is what brings a performance alive.”

The psychological stress of portraying Ramanna even took a toll on his health.

He recalled, “This role was so psychologically demanding that it affected me physically as well. Once, I got seriously ill while shooting for the film. I was rushed to Kokilaben Hospital, unconscious. Afterwards, I was informed that even when I was in a coma-like state, I continued speaking Raman Raghav’s dialogues. I don’t recall anything of it—but that’s how deep it had gone. Then after 8–10 days, I was back and resumed working on the film. But that experience… it never really left me.”

Revisiting the Experience

The actor later spoke further about how challenging it was to embody such a dark character.

He explained again, “When I got that role, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. It wasn’t the kind of role you could just show up and perform casually. It demanded serious mental and emotional preparation. To get into that mindset, I isolated myself. I stayed in a resort in Lonavala for 5–6 days.

Just to believe one line from the script: ‘I eat, drink, sleep, and kill. It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t even feel pain. You kill with the justification of humanity or religion — I kill just because.’ That was extremely hard for me to believe in. Because I’m not that person. I’ve never even raised my hand on someone, never scolded anyone. And here I had to become a man who kills without remorse.”

He added, “I knew I couldn’t fake it — I had to believe it, even if just for those scenes. Only after that internal shift happened, I returned to Mumbai to shoot. I stepped on set fully convinced, at least for those moments, that I could do it. It was one of the most difficult roles I’ve ever taken on.”

Dedication Beyond Limits

Speaking about why actors go to such lengths, Siddiqui said, “And see, when an actor is truly serious about their craft — when they’re vulnerable and committed — that intensity reflects on screen.

People sometimes ask, ‘Why do actors go so deep?’ But that depth, that seriousness, is what breathes life into a performance.”

He then described the severe physical consequences of playing Ramanna. “This role was so psychologically complex that it affected me physically too. At one point, I fell seriously ill during filming. I was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital, completely unconscious.

Later, I was told that even in that state, I kept repeating Raman Raghav’s dialogues. I don’t remember any of it — but that’s how deep it had gone. After 8–10 days, I recovered and returned to finish the film. But that experience… it never really left me.”

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Continued Journey

Work-wise, Siddiqui is now preparing for Raat Akeli Hai 2 and Thama. With every performance, he continues to strengthen his place as one of Bollywood’s most dedicated actors, unafraid of roles that demand vulnerability and transformation.

Widely recognized as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema, Siddiqui’s versatility and depth often evoke comparisons to Irrfan Khan. His portrayal of Ramanna in Raman Raghav 2.0 remains one of the clearest examples of how far he is willing to go to bring authenticity to his craft.