Nawazuddin's 'wild' side

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is headed for the woods. That's where filmmaker Ketan Mehta is taking him to prepare for his upcoming film. The film is based in rural India and Mehta apparently wants Nawaz to adapt well to the natural settings. Nawaz emphatically states, "I am ready to go anywhere with Ketanji!"

The 37-year-old actor will play the lead role in Mehta's next. The period film, set in 1960, tells the inspiring tale of Dashrath Manjhi who single-handedly armed with just a hammer and chisel worked for 22 years to break down a mountain. Manjhi thereby managed to reduce the distance between Atri and Wazirganj in the Gaya district of Bihar from 75 km to just one.

Naturally, Nawazuddin requires some time off to get himself ready for the physically as well as mentally demanding role.u00a0"Manjhi isn't an everyday guy, so it's not just about having bulging biceps and ripping abs. I need some time, at least a month, to prepare myself. I'm presently shooting for Lunch Box, which will wrap up by the last week of September. Then I'll be taking a break for this dream role," says the NSD graduate.u00a0