Narendra Jha: Delhi’s lost in traffic, tall buildings and flyovers

Actor Narendra Jha feels that the Delhi he knew so well – the Delhi of late 80s and early 90s – has gotten lost somewhere in the city’s modern day avatar. "I have fond memories of Delhi. I studied at JNU and learnt acting from Sri Ram Centre. I stayed in the city for six years. But now, when I come to Delhi, I feel a sense of alienation. Munirka, Panchsheel Enclave, Hauz Khas and Greater Kailash are nothing like what they used to be.The city has developed so much that I can’t connect to it. I understand development is important, but the Delhi I knew got lost in high-rise buildings, traffic jams and flyovers. It’s like if you miss one signal, you would miss an entire colony. In those days, there was less chaos and more greenery," says the film and TV actor.
Getting nostalgic about the good ol’ days, he adds, "As students, we never had a lot of money to spend. So we used to derive happiness out of simple things like going to India Gate and attending cultural programmes at Mandi House. Also, at Shahjahan Road, outside the UPSC building, we used to have some delicious chaat."