Nawazuddin Siddiqui is not intimidating : Shweta Tripathi

She thought him to be uptight, serious and intimidating but much to actress Shweta Tripathi’s surprise, her “Haraamkhor” co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui was unassuming, without any trace of star-like attitude.

The actress was a bundle of nerves on the first day of shooting as “Haaramkhor” was her first Hindi film but Nawazuddin’s “simplicity” and “humility” eased her out.

“When Shlok (director) told me that I would be paired opposite Nawazuddin, I took it as a joke. It is unbelievable that you get to act with an actor like him in your first movie. I had thought he would be all serious and I was nervous but it was not at all intimidating working with him. He was , in fact, more relaxed than me,” Shweta told PTI.

The “Masaan” actress, who shot for “Haraamkhor” much before her Neeraj Ghaywan-directed drama, added Nawazuddin used to ask for her inputs and discuss scenes with her.

“Nawaz was very sweet and normal with me. He used to discuss scenes and ask for my suggestion. He used to incorporate my inputs if he felt them he could use them. It was an incredible experience working with Nawaz and I feel blessed to have got this opportunity. I want to act with him only.”

“Haraamkhor”, helmed by first-time director Shlok Sharma, is a love story between a teenager student, played by Shweta, and her teacher (Nawazuddin).

The actress said the film has a very identifiable subject as almost every girl has experienced a crush on her professor during her school or college days.

“It is a very relatable story. This happens everywhere.

It is considered as a taboo but we should not run away from the truth. Girls fall for their teachers and we have tried to show that in the most realistic manner.”

The actress, however, said the makers are not endorsing this concept through the film and tried to delve into the psyche of the people involved in such a situation.

“We are not calling anything right and wrong. We are trying to show why this happens, what can be the reasons behind an involvement between a student and her teacher… How she misses a father figure as her own father is not there for her. One is very naive at that age and you tend to take steps, which can hurt you later. We have tried to show this,” Shweta said.

“Haraamkhor” won the runners-up trophy in the best film category at the recently concluded Jio MAMI 17th Mumbai International Film Festival.

Inputs by PTI