Saif's nostalgia in Bhopal

Saif Ali Khan is currently shooting for Prakash Jha's Aarakshan in Bhopal, and the location has him reminiscing about his childhood years.

The film's shooting is taking place very close to his paternal grandmother Sajida Sultan's ancestral property, and this has made him very nostalgic. Even though it's been fifteen years since the actor last visited Bhopal, he has fond recollections of his once-upon-a-time childhood home. The quiet days spent there are very much engraved in his memory.

Saif used to live in Bhopal in a joint family of twenty people, and he studied at Bal Bhavan School for four years. On his way to school, Saif, naughty as ever, would visit the fields and eat the farmers' lunch which usually consisted of fried bhindi, daal and rice. He found this simple fare far tastier than the food at home and the same rings true even to this day! He was heard saying that he yearns for a simple farmer's meal like the ones he used to enjoy during his school days.

Along with that came the memories of his grandmother. Sajida was the Begum of Bhopal and was married to Saif's paternal grandfather Nawab Iftekhar Ali Khan, the ruling nawab of Pataudi. Saif remembers her as the strong matriarch of the family with a soft side as well. She was a woman who would drive a Jaguar very fast, shoot Nitro Express rifles, go for big game hunting and always carry money with her to give to beggars.

Even the view across from his hotel room has brought back fond memories as it is the compound of an old palace where he would often take walks with his father. Saif loved the rustic way of life he enjoyed back then, and he wishes his children could experience the same.

It looks like no amount of high-profile vacation spots he's hit with Bebo can replace the special place that simple Bhopal has in Saif's heart thanks to all the fond memories it holds... after all, dil to bachcha hai ji!