His is a life imitating art, Hiroshi Nohara, of Japan has been living at the Terminal 1 of the Benito Juarez airport in Mexico City since arriving there on September 2 and he does not want to leave yet.

Reminiscent of the Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones starrer, "The Terminal" where Hanks played to role of Viktor Navorski, a man from the fictional country of Krakozhia who arrived at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York only to find out that his country was overtaken by rebels mid-flight, invalidating his passport making him stateless and a fixture in the airport, Nahora has made Benito Juarez airport his "home."

He has been staying at the airport terminal, surviving on give-aways from fast-food stores operating inside the airport.

And just like in the movie, Nahora has enjoyed the status of a mini-celebrity, being interviewed by various Mexican television stations to air his story.

And many passengers and tourists passing along the airport would always want to have their picture taken with Nahora or sign autographs.

Because of his new found fame, many food stalls in the airport would ride on his popularity and throw in hats, coffee mugs or merchandising items with store logos, with the aim of getting free publicity whenever Nahora is interviewed by television crews.

Nahora arrived in Mexico with a return ticket, but surprisingly, had not left the airport since his arrival.

Legally, the embassy can't force him to leave and his visa is valid until March. Until then, Mexican officials will just have to wait for the visa to expire.

For now, Nahora, with his long and unwashed beards and smelly clothing, can enjoy the bask of the media limelight and the free foods that comes with his celebrity status.