Siddharth Nigam is stepping into a new phase of his career with Kaptaan, surprising fans with his intriguing character Kabir. In an exclusive chat, the actor opened up about breaking stereotypes, evolving beyond television, and embracing new creative challenges.
On challenges while transitioning from TV to OTT
Talking about his transition from TV to OTT and films, Siddharth admitted it hasn’t been smooth. “The transition honestly wasn’t easy at all. Television gives you massive reach, but breaking out of that image is the real challenge. People tend to see you in one space and box you there,” he said. Determined to grow, he added, “For me, the biggest challenge was making people believe I can do more than what they’ve already seen. It took patience, a lot of auditions, and saying no to repetitive roles.”
The actor also addressed being typecast early in his career. “Yes, I was definitely offered similar roles safe, familiar characters that I knew I could do easily. But I consciously chose not to repeat myself,” he shared. Explaining why Kaptaan stands out, Siddharth said, “Kaptaan was special because it allowed me to break that image and show a different side more intense, more layered.”
Kaptaan brings a breakthrough for Siddharth Nigam
On the ongoing debate around working hours in the industry, Siddharth offered a balanced perspective. “Coming from television, where 12–14 hour shifts are quite normal, I understand both sides. Long hours do build discipline and stamina, but at the same time, creativity needs rest,” he said. He further added, “I believe a balanced approach is important. If an actor is well-rested, the performance automatically improves.”
Reflecting on his desire for a breakthrough role that redefines his image as a former child artist, Siddharth shared, “I think a breakthrough role for me would be something very raw and intense maybe an underdog story or a character with strong emotional depth and physical transformation.” He emphasised, “Something where people completely forget Siddharth Nigam and only see the character.”
Beyond screen acting, theatre has also played a significant role in his growth. Speaking about his experience, he said, “Theatre has been a completely different and beautiful experience. Working with Gulki Joshi has been amazing because theatre is very pure you don’t have retakes, you don’t have cuts.” He concluded, “It pushes you as an actor to be present in the moment and connect directly with the audience.”
With Kaptaan, Siddharth Nigam signals a clear shift one driven by risk, reinvention, and a commitment to evolve as a performer.
