As Nandita Das revealed last year that her second directorial will be based on Urdi’s top short story writer Saadat Hassan Manto and the uber-talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui will play the lead. The actor-turned-director has kicked off preparations with a look test.
According to Mumbai Mirror, Nandita said that she had done a test with Nawaz and Rasika Dugal who plays Manto’s wife Safia.
— Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) February 2, 2017
“It’s a work in progress with a lot more to be done in terms of how Manto looked and, more importantly, how he was as a person. His attitude, sensitivity, courage and fears… many contradictions have to be portrayed honestly” said Nandita.
I have no doubt that Nawaz is the best choice for the part, his range as an actor and sensitivity as a person are both needed here,” she added.
Manto’s daughters and other family members who live in Lahore have extended support to Nandita and shared nuggets from his life not found in his works, which have been included in the screenplay.
It is still unsure when the film will actually take off as Das said they are still on a journey to create the complex personality that was Manto.
