Born on May 19, 1974, in Budhana, a small town in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India, Nawazuddin Siddiqui hails from a Zamindar Muslim family. He is the eldest of nine siblings. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar, he worked as a chemist in Vadodara for a short while. However, his passion for acting led him to Delhi, where he joined the National School of Drama (NSD) and graduated in 1999.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui made his Bollywood debut in 1999 with a small role in the Aamir Khan starrer "Sarfarosh". Despite his strong performances, he remained unnoticed in the initial years. His breakthrough came with Anurag Kashyap's "Black Friday" (2007), followed by significant roles in "Gangs of Wasseypur" (2012), "The Lunchbox" (2013), "Raman Raghav 2.0" (2016), and "Manto" (2018). He has also starred in two Emmy-nominated series, "Sacred Games" (2019) and the British "McMafia".

Nawazuddin Siddiqui leads a simple lifestyle. Unlike other stars who prefer exotic holiday destinations, he prefers to go back to his native village and do farming on his ancestral land. He also enjoys flying kites and watching films. He lives in a 3-bedroom sea-facing apartment in Versova, Mumbai.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui was married to Anjana Kishor Pandey, and they have two children - daughter Shora Siddiqui and son Yaani Siddiqui. His younger brother, Shamas Nawab Siddiqui, is a well-known director.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has appeared in numerous critically acclaimed films. Some of his notable works include "Gangs of Wasseypur" (2012), "The Lunchbox" (2013), "Manjhi: The Mountain Man" (2015), "Manto" (2018), and "Raat Akeli Hai" (2020).

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's exceptional acting skills have earned him numerous awards, including a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award, and two Filmfare OTT Awards. He won the Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Talaash" in 2013. In 2018, he won the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Mom". He has also been nominated for an International Emmy.