When Nawazuddin Siddiqui shot in Maoist-affected area

Mumbai: It was a close shave for Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who was shooting for Buddhadeb Dasgupta`s ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa’ in the Maoist-affected area of Shimultala in Bihar.

The beautiful hill resort in the Jamui district is known for its Maoist activities. Nawaz and his unit braved the dangers as the film demanded the location. However, last Friday the crew had to hastily leave Shimultala to avoid a confrontation with the Maoists. Said Nawaz: "We had to wrap up for our shooting on Friday and quickly leave as there was a `bandh` call from the Maoists in Saturday. No one in the area dares to defy closure orders from the Maoists. We had no option but to pack our bags and leave." The rest of the shooting was completed in Kolkata. The actor, known for his power-packed performances in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Miss Lovely’, and ‘Kahaani’, was keen to work for the filmmaker. Speaking on Dasgupta`s film, Nawaz said: "I wanted to work with Buddhadeb Dasgupta from the time I saw his film `Tahader Katha`. It was visually stunning. And also, this brilliant director returns to Hindi cinema for the first time since he made `Andhi Gali`." IANS