Black flags were shown to Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan here, by those opposing the appointment of a Saudi national as the caretaker of the 'Rubaat' (guest house) of the Nawab of Bhopal in Saudi Arabia. The protesters belonged to the Arif Masood fan club and were led by its president Abdul Nafees last night.

They said that long back there were 45 'Rubaats' of the Hyderabad Nawab in Saudi Arabia but their number came down to one, after Saudi nationals were appointed as caretakers. The protesters felt the 'Rubaat' of the Bhopal Nawab would meet the same fate if a Saudi national was allowed to continue as its caretaker.

Meanwhile, miffed by the protests, Anwar Mohammed has resigned as Secretary of the Shahi Auqaf, which looks after all the properties of the Bhopal Nawab. Anwar said that he decided to quit as people of Bhopal were showing black flags to members of the Pataudi family whose signatures they have been using for a long time, to enable their stay at the Rubaat during their Haj trips at Mecca and Madina.

"I am firm in my resignation and would not withdraw it under any circumstance," he said. Khan was in Indore and Bhopal on Friday to promote his upcoming dream project Agent Vinod. The actor said he is now over 40 and his days of playing a lover boy in films have come to an end. Saif said that the shooting for the film was completed in 130 days.