Twelve years after Kick hit cinemas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has revealed the inspiration behind one of the film’s most memorable elements — the sinister laugh of his iconic villain, Shiv Gajra. According to NDTV, the actor said the distinctive laugh was inspired by Manoj Bajpayee’s performance in Aks.
Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, Nawazuddin reflected on the character that became one of Bollywood’s most unforgettable villains. He explained that the signature tongue-clicking sound used by Shiv Gajra came from techniques he and his fellow actors often used during their theatre days.
“The tongue-clicking sound was actually one of the nuances we used to incorporate often during our theatre days,” Nawazuddin said. “As for the sinister laugh you see in Kick, it was inspired by Manoj Bajpayee’s performance in Aks.”
According to NDTV, Nawazuddin said he admired Bajpayee’s portrayal in Aks and drew inspiration from it before adding his own style to create a performance that felt original. The combination of his theatre background and creative instincts helped shape a villain known for his psychological unpredictability, dark humour and distinctive mannerisms.
Directed and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, Kick released in 2014 as a remake of the 2009 Telugu film of the same name. The film starred Salman Khan in the lead, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Randeep Hooda, Mithun Chakraborty, Archana Puran Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Sumona Chakravarti, Vipin Sharma and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. His performance as Shiv Gajra remains one of the film’s most celebrated highlights more than a decade after its release.
