A number of his films have been festival favourites, but actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui feels the movies which get tremendous acclaim abroad, unfortunately get stuck here because of censorship.
The actor, who has worked in critically acclaimed films as diverse as 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and 'Miss Lovely', says he is saddened by the fact that things really haven't changed as much as one might expect.
"Now, they (films) go to festivals, get awards and acclaim, but the moment they come here, it all fizzles. It is very scary."
When asked if the Censor Board is one of the reasons, he says films made on real life stories face difficulties in getting passed.
"Our films get stuck there. People like it when films are made on real topics, but they (the Censor Board) won't let it pass or move ahead," said Nawazuddin.
The 42-year-old actor, however, is happy that his upcoming film 'Haraamkhor' is finally releasing on January 13, after the Examining Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had earlier declined to pass the movie citing that the movie's theme was "unacceptable."
The film chronicles the relationship between a 14-year-old girl (Shweta Tripathi) and her tuition teacher, played by Nawazuddin, in a small town.
He says while the subject might seem sensational to some, the film's treatment is anything but that.
"We have shot it in a very normal way. It is the story between a teacher and his student.”
"It's a very smooth, well made film where the aim is not to sensationalize. There is nothing deliberate in the film that has been done to grab eye balls," the actor added.