&w=3840&q=100)
EXCLUSIVE! Director Sejal Shah on Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Costao: ‘He was bit a maverick and a mad man'
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstpost, Costao director, Sejal Shah talks about the film, working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, meeting the real Costao and more. read more
Costao is a very complex protagonist and director Sejal Shah brought that out brilliantly in his character played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Based on a true story, the film is about a Goan customs officer Costao Fernandes (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who made history by catching a massive gold smuggling operation in the 1990s.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstpost's Lachmi Deb Roy, Shah talks about Costao who is a bit of a maverick and the way she wanted to show the character in the film. There is absolute honesty in her approach and the way Nawazuddin has depicted it.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
A still from Costao
Edited excerpts from the interview:
What made you come up with the idea of Costao and make it into a movie?
I used to be a journalist before I became a producer. I also had this goal of wanting to direct. I was also working on a couple of ideas and meeting a lot of people. And I was a journalist as you know. I have a friend of mine called Pranati, who used to work for Indian Express. When I met her once actually four to five years back. She introduced me to this person called PK Das who was actually Costao's boss. He is a very senior guy in customs and very respected. I was just chatting with him and in one of the conversations, he mentioned Costao. I knew about this story which happened in the 90s.
When I started reading about Costao, I asked him to introduce me to him. Das very specifically told me that Costao had been approached several times for a film, but he isn't very keen. I went to Goa and spent time with him and it took a lot of time to earn his confidence and trust. Most people love to talk about their heroic battles, but this was very complicated. Even while watching the movie Costao, you must have realised that he is a very complex protagonist.
What was the process of casting Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Costao? And what was the character of Costao that you wanted to highlight?
When I went to Nawaz, I very specifically told him that we don't want to do a whitewash hero, like in typical films where we see a hero, heroine, dancer, comedian and all that. Costao
played by Nawaz is definitely a heroic guy, but he feels guilty. His attitude towards family fails and he realises that. There are a lot of complexities in the character of Costao and that's what interested me.
When we met him for this movie, never once did he say that we should show only good things about him. He is such a truthful man that he demanded the same from us. There was a lot of creative integrity that went into the film. A lot of people felt that we should have shown a happier ending. That's because we are so used to seeing whitewashed characters and so much romanticization of a hero that nobody wants to see a hero who is flawed. But I believe that all humans are flawed. That is what interested me about Costao. And that's how the film happened.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Costao Movie Review
Going back to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, he is an actor with a very strong Hindi diction, how did you manage to help him play a Goan man?
Nawaz as you know is an extremely dedicated actor and knowing his caliber, I knew that he would be able to fit into this character. The idea was to not make a caricature and secondly, to get the soul of the person. And he understood the character of Costao and did his role brilliantly.
As I realised that Nawazuddin Siddiqui's eyes were doing most of the talking. The expressions were brilliant. How did you bring about the honesty in the character?
All of us worked on the film in such a way that there should be some honesty to the character. He, according to me, got everything that the character demanded. And Costa was also a maverick. He is a bit of a madman. And then it gets very easy for a director when you are working with an actor of that caliber. He understood the exact tone and treatment of the character.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
WATCH the trailer of ZEE5's Costao here:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Nimrat Kaur recalls low bank balance, facing uncertainty before The Lunchbox: ‘There was a lot of fear'
Actor Nimrat Kaur might be a household name now, but there was a time when she worked in theater and acted in advertisements while struggling to get a break in Bollywood. In an interview with Indian Express, she spoke about how she would be worried about her next paycheck before she landed her role in The Lunchbox. (Also Read: Nimrat Kaur reveals this assumption about her led to fewer work opportunities in films: 'Many believed that I…') Nimrat recalled starring in music videos for 2-3 months after coming to Mumbai and acting in a lot of ad films. She also recalled doing theater for 4-5 years. 'Sometimes I would get worried where my next pay cheque would come from? Am I good enough? Should I go back? Do people like seeing me in what I do? Before The Lunchbox, there was a point where I didn't know what I would do ahead.' She also recalled when her bank balance was so low she wondered if she could sustain in the city. 'While doing theater, there was a time when my bank balance had fallen very low. It was very difficult to understand where money would come from. There was a lot of fear, and returning home in a situation like that is a different kind of humiliation. There were days when I was very sad, low, things were very difficult, challenging. I would cry, feel lonely, but there was a voice inside me that said, don't give up,' said Nimrat. Nimrat acted in the English film One Night with the King and played cameos in Yahaan and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana before debuting as a lead with The Lunchbox in 2013. The film, which also starred Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap, and Arun Rangachari. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, Nimrat has acted in films like Airlift and Dasvi, apart from American shows like Homeland, Wayward Pines, and Foundation. She was most recently seen in Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs and Sky Force. She will soon star in Section 84.
Pink Villa
4 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Take a tour inside Nawazuddin Siddiqui's glamorous Bungalow in Mumbai
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is one of Bollywood's most critically acclaimed actors and a household name. The versatile actor has successfully touched the hearts of both the public and critics with the poignant and compelling characters he portrays. The sky's the limit for his progressing career. However, it was not always the case. The Manto actor had a rather humble upbringing. His residence in Mumbai stands as a stark reminder that success comes to those who remain persistent. Nawaz is humble and true to his craft, a quality that is brightly reflected in every conversation he holds. Let's take a look at his house and how Nawaz has embraced minimalism in decorating his abode. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Dream Nest Is a Fusion Between Modern And Vintage Architecture Staying true to its name, the house gives glimpses of the Nawabi architecture with its sun-kissed patio, hardwood stairs, white marble exterior, and opulent motif. Nawaz wanted a space with a cozy and homely vibe where he could take a step back and relax. The entrance features a wooden French door. The hall is adorned with a wooden billiard table and posters of famous plays by Moliere and Shakespeare at every corner. The inspiration behind this is the corridor of the National School of Drama. There is also a tiny bar in one corner with a sitting area for guests. Nawaz mentions that he loves to experiment with different aesthetics and colors. The cosmopolitan ambiance of the house aligns with the actor's deep understanding of interior planning. One of the main attractions of his home is the hall upstairs, where he relaxes and watches films. He decided to install big windows so he wouldn't feel suffocated. The room leads you to a small balcony, which is surrounded by Jali carving white marble railings. Lush greenery graces the area and fills it with serenity. He then escorts us to his makeup room, whose big attraction is a gigantic Hollywood-style wooden vanity mirror. Next, Nawaz invites the viewers to his terrace, which serves as an escape from the noise of the city. He spends most of his evenings there, chatting with his peers. According to the actor, his bedroom is the smallest room in the house. He jokingly mentions that he wants to stay true to his roots. With minimal furnishing, the room is stylishly decorated with a poster and a few planters. The next visit is to another hall, which Nawaz calls the busiest corner of the house. He has decorated the walls with posters of some of the most notable plays and playwrights. Nawaz lovingly christened his residence 'Nawab' as a homage to his father, who had a significant impact on his life. Not just a structure of bricks and stones, Nawaz wanted a memoir of his childhood home in Uttar Pradesh. He wanted a space where time stood still. That is why he curated the house in a way that takes him on a stroll down memory lane. Nawab, nestled in Mumbai's Versova, is where luxury meets sophistication. He has embellished every corner of the house with ornaments that hold deep value to him.
First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
Did Brigitte Macron Just Slap Emmanuel Macron? Viral Video Sparks Debate
Did Brigitte Macron Just Slap Emmanuel Macron? Viral Video Sparks Debate | Vantage with Palki Sharma Did Brigitte Macron Just Slap Emmanuel Macron? Viral Video Sparks Debate | Vantage with Palki Sharma French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Hanoi on Sunday (May 25) evening. However, before the leader disembarked from the plane, he seemed to have been pushed sharply in the face by someone. The incident was captured just after the door of the French presidency jet was opened and Macron was seen standing beyond it. At some point, a hand appeared from the left and pushed his face away. Macron appeared startled but quickly recovered to wave through the door. The person who pushed Macron remained hidden by the body of the plane. Moments later, Macron and his wife Brigitte, 72, dressed in red stepped out of the plane and descended the steps of the air stairs to be officially welcomed by Vietnamese officials. Also on Vantage Shots: - In China, humanoid robots pack punches in the boxing ring. - Hawaii's volcano fires a lava fountain into the air in its latest eruption episode. - This Day in 1896: Czar Nicholas the second was crowned. He was the last czar of Russia. Emmanuel Macron | France | Southeast Asia | Vietnam | Hanoi | US | China | Firstpost | World News | News Live | Vantage | Palki Sharma | News #france #macron #southeastasia #vietnam #hanoi #usa #china #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews Vantage is a ground-breaking news, opinions, and current affairs show from Firstpost. Catering to a global audience, Vantage covers the biggest news stories from a 360-degree perspective, giving viewers a chance to assess the impact of world events through a uniquely Indian lens. The show is anchored by Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Firstpost. By breaking stereotypes, Vantage aims to challenge conventional wisdom and present an alternative view on global affairs, defying the norm and opening the door to new perspectives. The show goes beyond the headlines to uncover the hidden stories – making Vantage a destination for thought-provoking ideas. Vantage airs Monday to Friday at 9 PM IST on Firstpost across all leading platforms. Subscribe to Firstpost channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live. Follow Firstpost on Instagram: Follow Firstpost on Facebook: Follow Firstpost on Twitter: Follow Firstpost on WhatsApp: See More
