Yesteryear actress Nadhiya Moidu wowed the Malayali cine goers with some brilliant onscreen performances. It was almost 34 years ago that Nadhiya debuted opposite Mohanlal in the super hit movie 'Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu'. The movie and her character still remain fresh in the hearts of the audience. She recently made an amazing comeback through the Mohanlal-starrer Neerali. Nadhiya talks about her home and some of the sweetest memories associated with it.
Nadhiya says, with a smile, that her life has exactly been like a movie, full of twists and surprises. The actress was born and brought up in Sion, a calm suburb in Mumbai. Her father NK Moidu hailed from Thalassery and mother Lalitha was from Thiruvalla. Haseena is her younger sister. Nadhiya has fond memories about her parents’ ancestral homes in Kerala where she used to visit during the holidays.
Childhood memories
“My mother’s ancestral home was at the beautiful village called Karuvatta near Thiruvalla. It was a small house built in the traditional architectural style. Since it was a joint family, there were lots of people in the house. There was a lush green field near our house. Once, during the monsoon, water level rose in the field quite unexpectedly and water gushed into the house as well,” recalls Nadhiya.
Meanwhile, Nadhiya’s father belonged to an orthodox Muslim family in Thalasserry. Her father was raised by his elder brother as they had lost their father. Nadhiya says that her uncle, who was the patriarch of the family, was greatly respected by everyone in the family. Her parents met each other in Mumbai where they were employed. The couple, despite coming from different communities, overcame the religious obstacles and got married.
“Father had in fact given us the freedom to make our own choices in life. So I was able to make myself acquainted with different cultures while growing up. I spent my childhood and teenage years in the great city of Mumbai. My father worked at the Tata Company. For a while we stayed at the quarters allotted by the firm. Later we bought a house in Mumbai. It was at this city that I found my life partner as well. I was just 17 years old then, and he was 20. After courting each other for a few years we tied the knot. My husband Girish Godbole is an investment banker,” says Nadhiya.
Homes abroad
After marriage, Nadhiya and Girish flew to the United States of America. She stayed at a beautiful flat in Manhattan, away from the bustle of the city. Meanwhile, she became the mother of two girls. “America is not just a country full of skyscrapers. In some housing colonies, quaint wooden houses, in the middle of lush greenery and beautiful nature, could be seen. They are incredibly beautiful. Unlike us, Americans are not ready to spend their entire savings on just building a house,” observes Nadhiya.
After spending 12 years in America, the family moved to the United Kingdom. Nadhiya really enjoyed the 18 years that she spent at America and the UK. She was surrounded by her childhood friends at these countries as well and they used to share the events and incidents from their hometown.
Nadhiya has two daughters, Sanam and Jaana, who are studying in America. “I have inculcated the sense of freedom that I enjoyed in my life, in my daughters as well. I raised them without imposing too many restrictions, just because they are girls. They have seen the world and live their lives independently,” says the actress.
Back to Mumbai
After returning from the UK, the family settled in Mumbai. They bought a flat at Pali and have been living there for the last 11 years. “Many leading Bollywood stars have their residences at the neighboring Pali Hills. After my kids grew up, I spent some time decorating my flat and even tried my hands at interior designing. Even now, I like to deck up my home,” reveals Nadhiya.
The actress travels to Kerala only for the shooting of TV programs. She admits that a few movie projects are under discussions. Hopefully, the Malayali audience will be able to enjoy Nadhiya’s another spectacular performance on the silver screen in 2019.
