Nimisha Sajayan reminisces about her childhood home

Actress Nimisha Sajayan made her way into the hearts of the Malayali movie goers as a rural belle in the superhit movie Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum. It is, however, hard to believe that the actress who nailed the role perfectly, grew up in a metro like Mumbai. Her father Sajayan is an engineer, while her mother is a homemaker. Her only sister Neethu works in Pune. “I had no great interest in the fast-paced Mumbai life. There, no one has time for anything. Life hurries away just like that,” notes Nimisha.

Home in Kerala

Nimisha’s parents who hail from Kollam, later came to Ernakulam. The actress has fond memories of her mother’s ancestral home in Punalur. “It was a beautiful house built in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, with roof paved with mud tiles. There were lots of trees and lush green plants in the courtyard. I remember my grandmother feeding me and my sister rice mixed with salt and coconut oil, whenever we were there during vacations. I can still feel the amazing taste of those rice balls in my mouth,” recalls Nimisha.

The flat in Mumbai

The family stayed at a spacious 3 BHK flat in Mumbai and Nimisha’s childhood memories is mostly centered on this flat. The actress admits, with a smile, that she was a naughty kid and loved to plan pranks along with a kid named Rithesh next door. One of those regular mischievous acts was pouring water on people below from the balcony in the pretext of watering the plants in the garden. She would then hide somewhere in a corner to escape her father's wrath only to ‘re-appear’ after the matter is settled.

“My bedroom is my favorite corner in the flat. I love to spend most of my time in my bedroom itself. I used to draw pictures when I was a kid and still have those paintings pasted on the walls of my bedroom. However, I am really lazy to keep my room tidy. In fact, my mother has got fed up with tidying up my room,” says Nimisha.

Mumbai to Cochin

While in school, Nimisha was interested in acting, dance and sports more than academics. The actress is a proud black belt holder in Taekwondo. They have rented a 3 BHK flat in Cochin after she became busy in movies. Nimisha’s father is still in Mumbai, while her mother stays with her at Cochin.

The ‘Mangalyam...’ house

Nimisha confesses that she loved the house where her latest movie Mangalyam Thanthunanena opposite Kunchacko Boban was filmed. “A beautiful house in Thodupuzha is shown as Chackochan’s home in the movie. It is a house built in traditional style. We used to call it ‘poo veedu’ (flower house) as its courtyard was adorned with lots of flowering bushes in pots. We were sad to bid adieu to that house after the filming was over. I seriously am beginning to get bored of my life in a flat. My dream is to buy a beautiful house like that in future and live happily there,” Nimisha signs off.