Nawazuddin Siddiqui Age, Wiki, Family, Career, Net Worth

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is one of the finest Indian actors of Hindi cinema, who was born on May 19, 1974 (52 years old) in Budhana, a small town in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India.

He is known for his intense, natural, and realistic style of acting. Over the years, he became widely known for his work in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and the Netflix series Sacred Games.

One of his best-known works is the crime epic Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), which made him a household name across India.

He is also the recipient of a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards, an IIFA Award, and an International Emmy nomination.

Quick Facts of Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Full Name	Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Profession	Actor
Age	52 years old
Date of Birth	May 19, 1974
Nationality	Indian
Zodiac/Sun Sign	Taurus
Birthplace	Budhana, Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Current Address	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Gender	Male

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Early Life and Education

Nawazuddin Siddiqui was born into a zamindari Muslim family of Lambardars and is the eldest of eight siblings. He spent most of his youth in Uttarakhand, where his family lived for several years.

As a child, he lived in a village where proper education was hard to get. The nearest theatre from his hometown was around 45 km away, so he used to practice imaginary scenes alone in front of a mirror. His love for watching plays and cinema slowly grew into a dream of becoming an actor.

Education

Nawazuddin Siddiqui completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar.

After graduating, he worked as a chemist at a petrochemical company in Vadodara for about a year. He then moved to Delhi in search of a new job, where he got drawn towards acting after watching a play.

To secure admission at the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, he acted in more than ten plays with a group of friends, including one in Dehradun. He was finally admitted and completed his acting training at NSD, graduating in 1999.

Alma Mater	National School of Drama, New Delhi
Highest Qualification	Graduate

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Personal Life

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s personal life has been complex and highly publicised, marked by two marriages and several controversial past relationships.

Many details of his personal life came to light in October 2017 through his controversial memoir, An Ordinary Life, which he later withdrew following intense public backlash and legal scrutiny.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been married twice.

First Marriage with Sheeba Siddiqui

During his early struggling days in Mumbai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui entered into an arranged marriage with a woman named Sheeba from his native region. The marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce within a year, mainly due to interference from her family. The couple didn’t have any children together.

Second Marriage with Aaliya Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s wife, Aaliya Siddiqui, was born as Anjali Kishor Pandey. They both were originally in a live-in relationship before marrying Sheeba.

After his divorce from Sheeba, Nawazuddin and Anjali reconnected and got married in 2009.

After marriage, Anjali converted to Islam and changed her name to Aaliya Siddiqui. The couple shares two children, Shora and Yaani.

The Aaliya Siddiqui Separation and Legal Disputes

The couple’s relationship has been highly turbulent over the years. In May 2020, Aaliya filed for divorce and sole custody of their children, citing a decade of marital discord and emotional neglect.

In the years that followed, their personal life became the subject of heavy media chatter, involving public mudslinging, police complaints, and property disputes involving Nawazuddin’s mother.

The couple attempted to reconcile multiple times for the sake of their children, including a reconciliation that Aaliya confirmed publicly in 2024.

However, they eventually decided to remain separated, and Aaliya relocated to Dubai with their children, where she moved on to a new relationship. They are currently married but maintain a non-traditional arrangement, focusing strictly on parenting rather than a romantic relationship.

Past Relationships of Nawazuddin

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has had a few notable relationships in the past:

Relationship with Sunita Rajwar

Nawazuddin’s relationship with fellow National School of Drama graduate and actress Sunita Rajwar took place during his early days in Mumbai, when both were struggling to find their footing.

In his memoir, he stated that their breakup left him deeply depressed, a period that coincided with his darkest professional years. Sunita Rajwar later publicly disputed his version of events and stated that his account was one-sided and untrue.

Relationship with Niharika Singh

Nawazuddin shared a one-and-a-half-year relationship with former Miss India and actress Niharika Singh, his co-star in the films Miss Lovely (2012) and Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho (2015).

In the memoir, he described her as one of the most significant relationships of his life and also shared details of their first kiss. After the book’s release, Niharika Singh strongly condemned him for exploiting their past relationship for book sales without her knowledge, calling his actions exploitative and disrespectful, and her criticism played a major role in the memoir being pulled back.

Relationship with Suzanne

Nawazuddin also dated an American woman named Suzanne, who lived with him briefly in Mumbai during his struggling years.

Children

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has two children with his second wife, Aaliya: a daughter named Shora and a son named Yaani.

Daughter: Shora Siddiqui

Shora Siddiqui was born in 2011. She is the eldest child. Shora has been making frequent public appearances alongside her father at airport outings and film screenings.

She is actively pursuing the performing arts, having undergone rigorous theatre training in London and performing in the musical Beauty and the Beast at the West End Stage. Nawazuddin has publicly shared his pride in her independent determination to learn the craft without relying on his star influence.

Son: Yaani Siddiqui

Yaani was born on May 19, 2015. He uniquely shares the exact same birthday as his father. Nawazuddin prefers to keep Yaani mostly out of the public eye to ensure a grounded, normal childhood away from the film industry, occasionally sharing glimpses of him playing or spending family time together.

Parents

Nawazuddin Siddiqui was born into a zamindari Muslim family of Lambardars in Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, and his parents played a big role in shaping his journey from a small village to Bollywood.

Father

Nawazuddin’s father was Nawabuddin Siddiqui. He was a farmer and landowner from a traditional Zamindari Muslim family in the small town of Budhana in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

Coming from Western Uttar Pradesh, where community pride runs very high, Nawabuddin initially disliked the small and uncredited roles his son took in the early days. Nawazuddin mostly played small-time criminals or pickpockets who got beaten up on screen in films like Sarfarosh and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Village locals mocked these roles, which prompted a tense Nawabuddin to tell Nawazuddin not to return to the village until he earned proper respect. This led Nawazuddin to avoid visiting home for three years.

As Nawazuddin gradually found mainstream success with acclaimed cinema like Gangs of Wasseypur, his father grew immensely proud of him. Nawazuddin fondly recalls that when he first acted in a theatre play in Dehradun, his father was so thrilled that he distributed sweets across the Budhana market and boasted about his son’s talent.

Nawabuddin passed away on July 20, 2015, at the age of 72. He had been suffering from a prolonged illness and paralysis for a long time and passed away due to a sudden brain haemorrhage. He was laid to rest at the family graveyard in his native village of Budhana.

Mother

His mother is Mehroonisa Siddiqui. She is a homemaker from a conservative family in the small village of Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, and she gained widespread recognition for her resilience and her contributions to society.

Despite being unable to read or write herself, Mehroonisa showed immense courage against rigid village taboos by actively encouraging and helping educate children in her community. In 2017, she was named to the BBC’s list of the 100 Most Influential Women.

Nawazuddin frequently credits his mother’s words for keeping him motivated during his decade of severe struggle in Bollywood. She famously used to tell him in Hindi, “Even a pile of garbage changes its place over time. You are a human being; your day will also come.”

In early 2023, Mehroonisa was central to the media spotlight when she filed a property dispute and trespassing FIR against Nawazuddin’s wife, Aaliya. This sparked a temporary but intense legal battle within the family before Nawazuddin and Aaliya eventually reconciled to co-parent their children.

Siblings

Nawazuddin has seven siblings, as he is the eldest of eight siblings, growing up in a large family consisting of six brothers and two sisters. Publicly known siblings are:

• Shamas Nawab Siddiqui: A film director who was once closely associated with Nawazuddin’s professional life. However, the brothers had a highly publicised fallout, with Shamas making public statements accusing the actor of being difficult and emotionally distant.
• Syama Tamshi Siddiqui: Nawazuddin’s younger sister tragically passed away in December 2019 at the young age of 26 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer.
• Ayazuddin Siddiqui & Faizuddin Siddiqui: His other brothers have mostly remained private, though they occasionally made minor news appearances during family disputes

Relationship Status	Married
Wives/Ex-girlfriends	Current wife: Aaliya Siddiqui Ex-wife: Sheeba Siddiqui Ex-girlfriends: Sunita Rajwar, Niharika Singh, Suzanne
Children	Daughter: Shora Siddiqui Son: Yaani Siddiqui
Parents	Father: Nawabuddin Siddiqui Mother: Mehroonisa Siddiqui
Siblings	Brothers: Shamas Nawab Siddiqui, Ayazuddin Siddiqui, Faizuddin Siddiqui Sister: Syama Tamshi Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Career

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an Indian actor known for his realistic and powerful performances in Hindi cinema.

His journey from a struggling actor living in a shared flat to one of the most respected performers in Bollywood is one of the most inspiring stories in the industry. Here is a detailed look at his career journey.

1999 to 2003: Bollywood Debut and Early Struggle

Nawazuddin made his Bollywood debut in 1999 with a small role in the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh.

He then appeared in Ram Gopal Varma’s Shool (1999), the film Jungle (2000), and Rajkumar Hirani’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003).

In 2003, he also did a short film called The Bypass, where he appeared alongside Irrfan Khan.

2004 to 2009: Years of Hardship

Between 2002 and 2005, Nawazuddin was largely out of work and lived in a flat shared with four other people, surviving by conducting occasional acting workshops.

In 2004, one of the worst years of his struggle, he could not pay rent and stayed with an NSD senior in Goregaon on the condition that he would cook meals for him.

Between 2004 and 2007, he did a few minor roles, including in Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday, which was released in 2007 and was a nominee for the Golden Leopard.

In 2009, he appeared in a cameo in the song Emotional Atyachar in Dev D, playing Rangila, and also appeared in the film New York.

2010 to 2012: Recognition and Breakthrough

Nawazuddin’s role as a journalist in Anusha Rizvi’s 2010 film Peepli Live got him wide recognition for the first time.

In 2012, he appeared in Prashant Bhargava’s Patang: The Kite, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. His performance was praised by famous critic Roger Ebert, who said the role transformed his acting style and awarded it the Thumbs Up Trophy.

In 2012, he also played the short-tempered intelligence officer Khan in Kahaani and appeared in Aamir Khan’s Talaash. His first primary lead role came as Sonu Duggal in Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely, which premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. He described it as his most real performance so far.

2012 to 2015: Mainstream Success

Anurag Kashyap’s gangster epic Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) took Nawazuddin’s fame to another level, and he followed it with the sequel in the same year.

In 2013, he played the lead in the horror film Aatma and appeared in The Lunchbox, which premiered in the Critics’ Week section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won him multiple awards.

In 2014, he played the lead antagonist Shiv Gajra opposite Salman Khan in the blockbuster Kick.

In 2015, his films Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Manjhi: The Mountain Man were released, and he was praised for both roles. He also appeared in Badlapur (2015).

2016 to 2019: Critical Acclaim and International Fame

Nawazuddin’s work in Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) won him the Fancine Malaga Award in Spain and the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor.

In 2017, he appeared in Raees and Mom. In 2018, he played the title role in Manto, a film based on the life of Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto, and won Best Actor at the 2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards for it.

In the same year, he starred alongside Saif Ali Khan in Netflix’s first original Indian series, Sacred Games, playing Ganesh Gaitonde, a role that made him famous worldwide. He also appeared in the British series McMafia (2018), and he appeared in the Oscar-nominated film Lion (2016).

2020 to Present: Recent Work

In 2020, he starred in the crime thriller Raat Akeli Hai as Inspector Jatil Yadav, a role he is known for.

In 2021, he was seen in the American, Bangladeshi, and Indian film No Land’s Man.

In 2022, he appeared in Heropanti 2. In 2023, he starred in Afwaah alongside Bhumi Pednekar, in Jogira Sara Ra opposite Neha Sharma, and in Kangana Ranaut’s Tiku Weds Sheru opposite Avneet Kaur.

In 2025, he starred in the Maddock Films production Thamma, alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Paresh Rawal. He later reprised his role as Inspector Jatil Yadav in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, which premiered at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa before its global release on Netflix on 19 December 2025.

In 2026, he starred in Main Actor Nahin Hoon, directed by Aditya Kripalani.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Awards and Achievements

Key Wins

• 2012 – National Film Awards: Winner, Special Jury Award for Gangs of Wasseypur, Kahaani, Talaash, and Dekh Indian Circus.
• 2014 – Filmfare Awards: Winner, Best Supporting Actor for The Lunchbox.
• 2018 – Asia Pacific Screen Awards: Winner, Best Performance by an Actor for Manto.
• 2020 – Filmfare OTT Awards: Winner, Best Actor (Web Original Film) for Raat Akeli Hai.
• 2021 – Filmfare OTT Awards: Winner, Best Actor (Web Original Film) for Serious Men.
• 2022 – Cannes Film Festival: Winner, Excellence in Cinema Award.
• 2024 – Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest: Winner, Mould-Breaking Actor of the Year for Haddi.

Key Nominations

• 2021 – International Emmy Awards: Nominated, Best Actor for Serious Men.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Controversy

• The An Ordinary Life memoir backlash (2017): In October 2017, Nawazuddin released his autobiography, An Ordinary Life: A Memoir. The book immediately drew widespread backlash for containing vivid and highly explicit details of his past intimate relationships without the knowledge or permission of the women involved. Co-star Niharika Singh and theatre actor Sunita Rajwar publicly slammed him for distorting timelines and violating their privacy to sell copies. Sunita Rajwar even sent him a ₹2 crore defamation legal notice. Following immense public pressure, Nawazuddin issued a public apology on social media and withdrew the book from circulation within days of its release.
• The CDR phone tapping allegations (2018): Nawazuddin’s name surfaced during a police investigation into an illegal Call Detail Record (CDR) scam in Thane. Police officials alleged that he had hired a private detective to illegally obtain and monitor the phone records of his wife. Nawazuddin firmly denied the allegations, and no charges were sustained against him after his wife publicly defended him against the police claims at the time.
• The marital dispute and legal battle with Aaliya (2020 to 2023): Nawazuddin and his estranged wife, Aaliya Siddiqui, were embroiled in an aggressive and highly publicised legal battle over property, marital rights, and child custody. In May 2020, Aaliya filed for divorce and sent a legal notice to the actor. In early 2023, Aaliya posted several videos alleging that she and their children were locked out of bedrooms, denied food, and heavily monitored by security guards inside the actor’s Mumbai mansion. In response, Nawazuddin’s mother filed a police complaint against Aaliya for alleged trespass. Nawazuddin later maintained that the two had already been divorced for years and were living separately. The couple later attempted to reconcile the dispute for the sake of their children.
• The ₹100 crore defamation suit against his own family (2023): In March 2023, Nawazuddin filed a ₹100 crore civil defamation suit in the Bombay High Court against his ex-wife Aaliya and his brother, Shamasuddin Siddiqui, who previously served as his business manager. He claimed that his brother defrauded him, misused his bank credentials to purchase luxury cars and properties, caused over ₹37 crore in tax liabilities, and blackmailed him using private recordings. However, the Bombay High Court later dismissed the ₹100 crore lawsuit due to non-prosecution, as Nawazuddin and his legal counsel repeatedly failed to appear for the court sessions.
• The domestic help abandonment allegations in Dubai (2023): During the height of his marital disputes, a video surfaced of the family’s young domestic house help, Sapna Robin Masih, around 20 years old, in Dubai. She tearfully accused Nawazuddin of abandoning her in Dubai without pay, food, or resources after his family returned to India. While the video caused a massive public outcry, the house help later legally retracted her statement, apologised to the actor, and claimed she had made the video under extreme psychological pressure from external parties.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Net Worth

Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s net worth is estimated to be between ₹96-₹160 crore ($14-$20 million). He charges approximately ₹6-₹7 crore ($700,000-$800,000) per movie, and his annual salary is approximately ₹12 crore ($1.4 million).

Besides his film fees, he earns around ₹1 crore ($115,000) per brand endorsement deal.

Net Worth (Approx.)	₹96-₹160 crore ($14-$20 million)
Salary (Approx.)	Per movie: ₹6-₹7 crore ($700,000-$800,000) Annual income: ₹12 crore ($1.4 million)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Height, Weight, and Physical Stats

Below are the physical stats of Nawazuddin Siddiqui:

Height	In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 6 inches
Weight	In kg: 62 kg In lbs: 137 lbs
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Dark brown

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Social Media

Instagram	@nawazuddin._siddiqui
X	@Nawazuddin_S
Facebook	@NawazuddinSiddiqui

Interesting Facts About Nawazuddin Siddiqui

• He worked as a chemist at a petrochemical company in Vadodara before becoming an actor.
• He acted in more than ten plays just to fulfil the admission criteria for the National School of Drama.
• In his struggling days, he stayed with an NSD senior in Goregaon on the condition that he would cook meals for him.
• The nearest theatre from his hometown was 45 km away, so he practiced imaginary scenes in front of a mirror.
• He once said that he owns just one suit and wears it repeatedly at the Cannes Film Festival, and nobody has noticed.
• He prefers spending his vacations farming on his ancestral land in Budhana instead of exotic holiday destinations.
• He is an introvert and prefers to sit quietly rather than talk much.

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