Nawazuddin Siddiqui: I had to pinch myself hard

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

In the last five years, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has come a long way. From lamenting about having no suit to wear for his Cannes debut in 2012 to being labelled as India's answer to Anthony Hopkins at the French Riviera this year.

Also read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui gets roaring applause at Cannes

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

After the premiere of Anurag Kashyap's 'Raman Raghav 2.0' at the festival on Monday, Nawaz, who essays the titular role, was lauded for his stellar performance as the Mumbai serial killer of the '60s. International critics and film lovers were so impressed by his gory performance that they made no bones in drawing parallels between the actor with the 'Hannibal' (2001) and 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) legend.

Also read: 'Raman Raghav 2.0' opens to jam-packed house at Cannes 2016

A critic for The Hollywood Reporter said: "Anthony Hopkins' 'Hannibal' need not move over, but he would certainly enjoy the nuanced performance of this rising Indian actor, who has demonstrated his extraordinary range in roles."

Says Nawaz, "Being compared to a living legend like Sir Anthony Hopkins feels truly surreal. I had to pinch myself hard. After being heaped with the accolades, I can't stop thanking people for appreciating all the hard work that has gone into making this film."