Nawazuddin Siddiqui recalls running on Cannes red carpet thrice on the same day | Interview
India Today
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has attended the prestigious Cannes Film Festival multiple times in the past. This time, too, he will represent India on the international stage. However, his fondest memory remains that of 'running across the Cannes red carpet thrice in one day'. Here's why he did that.
Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is currently at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, along with a delegation of Indian celebrities, led by Union Minister for I&B, Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Thakur. Nawazuddin's association with Cannes has been a long one. This time, too, he is representing India on the international stage. However, his fondest memory remains that of 'running across the Cannes red carpet thrice in one day'. Here's why he did that.
Excerpts:
Once I went with three films here - Monsoon Shootout, Lunch Box and Bombay Talkies [in 2013]. All three teams of my film were standing on the red carpet. I walked with the first team, then ran back to the second team and then, after walking with them, I immediately returned to the third team, still standing there, to finish the walk. This was my fondest memory, I had walked the Cannes red carpet thrice in a day. People standing there were also wondering why is this guy running so much. Later they came to know that he was part of all three films.
The second-fondest memory is also from the same year. It was a matter of pride for the whole country that three films from one country were participating. Considering the Cannes Film Festival celebrates cinema, three Indian films being screened at the festival was a thing of pride.
I was not nervous, but I definitely realised for the first time that a platform like this existed where only cinema is celebrated. They talked about the independent films of the world. No one was talking about box office collections here, only cinema and art were being discussed. There was talk of artistic expression, which used to give me great comfort.
When an actor's films are screened here, he feels connected to this land. When I direct a film and it is screened here, and the whole world sees it, that's an unparalleled feeling. I consider Cannes to be the Mecca of cinema. Every artist feels that he has a home here. The thing I am most associated with or like is cinema. When such legends and lovers of cinema meet on one platform, there is a magical atmosphere.
Our country is the Country of Honour this year. It is a matter of pride for all of us Indians. But alas, not a single Indian film was selected this year. See, people get confused. Let me tell you that anyone can premiere their films here. You can also bring your film here and get it premiered. That is not a big deal. It is important to understand that the official selection process that a film goes through at Cannes is a matter of pride for the country. The value of the officially selected films at Cannes matters.