How Nawazuddin Siddiqui Reluctantly Accepted his Defining Role in Sacred Games

Initially unsure about OTT and Netflix, the acclaimed actor overcame hesitation and ignorance to deliver a powerful, career-changing performance as Ganesh Gaitonde.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, celebrated for his remarkable depth and versatility, has earned his reputation as one of Indian cinema’s most compelling performers. Among his many unforgettable roles, none captured the public imagination quite like his portrayal of Ganesh Gaitonde in Netflix’s Sacred Games—but that groundbreaking opportunity wasn’t an effortless choice.

In a recent podcast, Siddiqui revealed the surprising backstory. When producer Vikramaditya Motwane first invited him to sign on for the series, Nawazuddin bristled. He was recovering from years of struggle in the film industry and balked at returning to what he assumed was another ordinary TV serial. As he put it: “I’ve struggled so much to finally get into films—and now you want me to do a TV serial again? I don’t want to.” Motwane, however, was undeterred. He corrected Siddiqui’s misunderstanding bluntly: “This isn’t a TV serial. It’s OTT. It’ll be watched all over the world.” But Nawazuddin had little faith in that claim and ignored the offer for three to four months.

The impasse was finally broken when Motwane enlisted Anurag Kashyap’s help. Over drinks, Kashyap personally urged him to reconsider, describing Gaitonde as “a great character.” Moved by Kashyap’s guidance, and intrigued by the idea that this project could surpass even Gangs of Wasseypur, Siddiqui agreed to take the leap.

Looking back, Siddiqui admitted that the terms “OTT” and “Netflix” were foreign to him at the time—so much so that neither he nor most of the team truly grasped the significance of the platform. However, once filming began, and he felt the production quality rivaling that of a film, he realized this was no ordinary venture. Sacred Games was poised to be something much bigger.