I studied with Shaad Ali

We asked readers to tell us if they had grown up or studied with movie or television celebrities. And we got a great response!

Sharing his memories is Rishikesh Bagati, who studied with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom director Shaad Ali.

Also read: I studied with...

I studied with Shaad Ali in Standard 8. We were in Srinagar then (1998-1999). His father (Muzaffar Ali, who directed Umrao Jaan) was shooting for a film called Zooni, starring Dimple Kapadia, in Kashmir.

Since the shoot was a long one, Shaad had joined him there. He would sit behind me as we were made to sit in alphabetical order of our first names.

He was a very cultured and good-looking guy and we all thought that, with his father being a noted director, he would eventually become a Bollywood hero. We used to ask him to sign autographs for us, so that we could show them off when he became famous later!

Anyway, Zooni never got completed and Shaad left school. We lost touch after that.

I was thrilled when I came to know that he was the director of Saathiya. I instantly recognised him when I saw an interview of his.

He was a thorough gentleman, very soft-spoken with no airs about him. I wish him all the best in all his ventures.

Grew up with a star in the same neighbourhood? Studied with them in school? Had a star friend in college? Hung out at the canteen together? Bunked classes? Maybe even hit on the same pretty people?

What were they like? What did you think of them then? Did you ever foresee their success?

We look forward to hearing from you