3 min readNew DelhiMay 1, 2026 08:30 PM IST Nawazuddin Siddiqui, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD), is often celebrated for his slow but steady rise to success. Now that he has earned widespread recognition, the actor recently revisited some of his most memorable—and amusing—days at NSD, including one Holi celebration where he got heavily intoxicated on bhaang and believed he was the immortal Ashwatthama. Nawazuddin recalls NSD’s Holi Speaking to Radio Nasha Official, Nawazuddin recalled, “There’s a tradition at NSD—on Holi, experts gather to prepare thandai. The first time I had it, they kept pouring it into my mouth, and I just kept drinking. Initially, I felt nothing. After about an hour, they urged me to have more, and I did. That’s when I became Ashwatthama. I started imagining I had a bow and arrow—climbing trees, jumping on walls, and performing nonstop for nearly five hours.” But the episode didn’t end there. The haze lasted for another three hours, during which he became convinced that stepping outside a drawn circle would …