Nawazuddin Siddiqui recalls painful memory of his scene in Kamal Haasan's 'Hey Ram' getting deleted

In the year 2000, Kamal Haasan’s film 'Hey Ram' was released, featuring a stellar cast including Shah Rukh Khan, Hema Malini, Shruti Haasan, and Rani Mukerji. The film composed by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja, is significant in Haasan’s career. Interestingly, Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was also part of the film, but his scenes did not make it to the final cut.
Siddiqui shared his disappointment of being removed from the film. In an emotional recollection on his time on the 'Hey Ram' sets, he told Pinkvilla that he had played a crucial role in the film, where Haasan's character was supposed to save him. Acting alongside the legendary actor was a dream come true for him, and he was thrilled about his involvement in the film. However, much to his disappointment, his scene was removed at the last moment. This came as a shock, especially since he had invited five to six of his friends to the film’s premiere, excited to showcase his performance.
Just before the screening, Haasan personally informed Siddiqui about the decision to cut his scene. The veteran actor advised him to let his friends know in advance to avoid any awkwardness. Distressed by the news, the actor made a heartfelt request to retain his scene at least in the premiere screening, fearing embarrassment in front of his friends. Unfortunately for him, his request was not accepted.
Recalling that moment, Siddiqui shared that he went to his friends with tears in his eyes and informed them that his scene had been removed. Feeling dejected, he told them they could still watch the film if they wished, but he could not hide his sadness over the situation.
Nawazuddin was initially set to make his Tamil debut with 'Hey Ram' in 2000, however, he went on to bag a Kollywood film two decades later with 'Petta', starring Rajinikanth in the lead.