India, May 3 -- Before Gangs of Wasseypur catapulted him to nationwide fame, life looked very different for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He arrived in Mumbai with barely any money, took up work as a watchman to make ends meet, and immersed himself in theatre to hone his craft. After years of getting by on little more than tea and Parle-G biscuits, he finally earned the recognition he deserved - yet has remained characteristically modest about his journey.

In a recent interview, the 51-year-old actor opened up about the struggles that preceded his rise to fame, his unwavering dedication to his craft, and how he coped with the hardships along the way. He recalled grappling with moments of self-doubt, often feeling as though luck was not on his sid...