I come from Budhana, a small town in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. My grandfather was a farmer, so was my father. I started going to the fields at the age of 10 and tilled the land till I was 22 when I left for Vadodara to pursue further studies. I started out as a chemist there, developed an interest in acting and took off to Delhi to learn it professionally at the National School of Drama (NSD). Today, I am based in Mumbai but I still have fond memories of Budhana when my day used to start as early as 4.30 am.

As soon as I woke up I would head for the fields, drawing water from the tubewell for irrigation. The water had to be systematically distributed, it couldn't be allowed to collect in one place and go waste. At my time we didn't have tractor, so we'd plough with a hoe or use bulls. At 10 am I would get ready and leave for school. Most of the work was done in the morning but I'd still go to the fields for a stroll every evening because I enjoyed being there. We grew cash and food crops, mostly rice and sugarcane. I had once sold sugarcanes and gave the money straight to my father. Sometimes I'd joke that if that transaction could only happen without a receipt, I would have kept a percentage for myself. We've always had a comfortable life but I remember farmers losing a lot of money when insects destroyed crops. I'd feel really sad because I know how many compromises they had to make following such losses. When I went to Cannes in early 2016, I had met a bunch of French filmmakers who were also farmers from Nice. They introduced me to a unique irrigation technique called centre pivot, which helps farmers save on water and electricity. I want to introduce this technique in my village over the next two to four months.

Given my busy schedule, I don't get so much time to visit my gaon often, but whenever I'm there I still wake up at 4 am and sprinkle water in the fields. My children, Shora and Yani, also love it there and are playing in the fields all day. I have a farmhouse in Karasa now where I grow fruits and vegetables through organic farming, a method practiced even in my farms in Budhana. Farming is in my blood and there are times when I really miss the fields.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui celebrated his birthday yesterday in Kashmir on the set of Bajrangi Bhaijaan with Salman Khan and team. What doubled the celebration was the birth of his second child - ­ a son, coinciding with his birthday.

Nawaz's wife Aaliya delivered the baby boy in Jabalpur, where her parents reside. An ecstatic Nawaz said, “I got to know about my baby on Tuesday morning, soon after he was born at 10 am. I wish I could be with my wife but I'm hoping to reach Mumbai soon and head to Jabalpur to be with her.“

The mother had a normal delivery and both she and the child are healthy said the actor. The couple hasn't decided upon the name for their son as yet. The proud father of two, said, “My daughter, who is five-years-old now, is called Shora - Urdu name describing intellectuals involved in translations of religious books. So I guess even my son will mostly have an Urdu name.“
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Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2015)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's wife Anjali ensured that the actor's 41st birthday will be unforgettable. She delivered a baby boy early on May 19 to make it a double celebration. The couple already are the proud parents of a six-year-old daughter Shora.

Mirror connected with the actor at Srinagar airport, minutes before he was to board a flight to Mumbai from where he would proceed to his wife's home in Jabalpur to be with his family. Nawaz has been filming Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the Valley and fortunately for him the shoot wrapped up on Monday.

"Late at night we had a party to bring in my birthday. My son hadn't entered the world then but Salman who loves children and is like an elder brother to me, gave me his blessings and told me to convey his regards to my wife. I have yet to tell Kabir, Kareena and him the good news," said an elated Nawaz who when quizzed on the baby's name admitted he's still trying to figure out something nice. "My wife and I will think of one together. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift. From now on there will be double celebrations in the family on this day."

Meanwhile, the good times continue for Nawaz and his family. A 17-minute short, Miyan Kal Aana, which he has produced and his brother, Shamas Nawab Siddiqui, has directed, will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in the Short Film Corner category on May 23. As Mirror (April 15) had earlier reported, the film looks at the controversial Halala law in Islam and questions its treatment of women.

According to thelaw, if a Muslim man wants to remarry his divorced wife, he has to get her married to another man who will then have to divorce her, before theycan be reunited.