Nawazuddin Siddiqui, an actor whose career often mirrors the shifting tides of the Hindi film industry, has voiced a poignant concern about the current cinematic landscape. In a recent interview, he highlighted a significant contradiction born from the very digital revolution he helped pioneer.
The OTs Paradox: Opportunity and a Squeeze
Credited with shaping India's OTT turning point through his iconic and chilling portrayal of Ganesh Gaitonde in Netflix's 'Sacred Games', Siddiqui now observes a troubling side effect. While streaming platforms undeniably democratized access and pulled in vast new audiences, their explosive growth has, in his view, slowly constricted the theatrical space for small, story-led films.
Speaking to Firstpost, Siddiqui explained that the sheer volume of content makes it hard for any project to gain traction unless it dominates online conversation. The OTT wave has fundamentally altered not just viewing habits but the very economy of attention. Films that once thrived on gradual word-of-mouth and patient discovery now struggle to register at the box office, as speed, buzz, and immediate visibility drive consumer choices.
The Lost Pathway for Audiences
Siddiqui reminisced about the subtle role theatres once played in cultivating diverse tastes. A mainstream commercial release could spark curiosity and gently guide viewers towards more niche, personal cinema. That organic pathway, he feels, is now dangerously thin.
“If I do a big ticket entertainer seen by 100 people, at least five of them could show up to watch my smaller films; but I can’t see them anymore either,” he told the publication. He framed this loss as not merely financial but deeply cultural. “It is becoming really difficult to release the kind of cinema that we liked,” he added, revealing that he has sometimes taken on projects for minimal fees just to ensure certain stories get told.
New Sequel on an Uncertain Road
Amid these reflections, Siddiqui is currently seen in 'Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders', the sequel to the acclaimed 2020 crime thriller. The original was praised for its restrained tone and layered storytelling, exactly the kind of cinema now facing headwinds in the new ecosystem.
His observations paint a picture of an industry at a crossroads, where the tools of expansion also risk homogenizing the cinematic palette. For an actor celebrated for bringing complex, unconventional characters to life, the changing landscape presents both a personal and professional challenge, signaling a need for a new model to ensure diverse stories continue to find their audience.
