Zeeshan Ayyub made an impromptu visit to his alma mater, Kirori Mal College recently. From meeting the college principal to reminiscing about the time spent at the auditorium, Zeeshan felt nostalgic visiting the place that means so much to him. “College jaake toh kaamal ka mehsoos hota hai, lagta hai everything is good around you aur aage sab achha hi hoga. Players (theatre society of KMC) ka hissa reh kar, main jo bhi insan bana, ussi teen saalon mein main mould hua. You feel that as soon as you enter North Campus. College mein ghoosne ke baad toh lagta hai that I can conquer the world. Kirori Mal College is my everything. KM is something main chodh nahi sakta. Woh abhi bhi meri life ka sabse khoobsurat waqt hai,” says the actor, who studied in college from 2000-2003. Zeeshan adds, “Kuch log maante hain ki Bollywood mein thodi success paane ke baad woh waqt hoga, ya award ki khushi milne ka waqt hoga ya kisi director se milke, ya kisi bade actor se tareef paake… woh bhi khoobsurat hai apne aap mein, lekin college ke teen saal, woh sabse behtar waqt maine life ka yahan guzara (hain).”

Zeeshan met KMC principal Dinesh Khattar and Keval Arora, Mentor, Players, the theatre society of KMC and Shalini Baxi, Staff Advisor, Players, during his visit

‘KEVAL NE YAHI SEEKHAYA HAI KI FIRST QUESTION EVERYTHING’ Talking about meeting Dinesh Khattar, the principal of the college, and reuniting with Keval Arora, mentor and the former staff advisor of Players,the theatre society of KMC, Zeeshan shares, “Though I met him ( the principal) for the first time, he met me with a lot of warmth. Maine jo bhi college ke baare mein bataya, usmein jo catalyst tha ki main ek alag aadmi, entity, artiste ban paaya, woh bas Keval ki wajah se hua. Uss insan ne meri life change kardi. Keval ne yahi seekhaya hai ki first question everything then get on with it and if you are confident then there is no looking back.

The former Players (theatre society of KMC) member visited the renovation site for the KMC auditorium

‘AUDITORIUM TOH HUMARA TEEN SAAL KA GHAR THA’
Kirori Mal’s administration has now started the work to renovate the college auditorium, which had been in a dilapidated state for over a decade. Zeeshan, who also made a visit to see the renovation work, shared, “Auditorium toh humara teen saal ka ghar tha. Main honestly bolun toh hum wahi rehte thay, actually badha straight routine tha. We used to reach college at 9am, saare din baithe rehte thay, general discussion hote thay – socio-political cheezon ko leke, theatre ko leke, aur rehearsals ke baare mein, plays ke baare mein, yeh jo play chal raha hai usse kaise better bana sakte hain – That was our home and utna zyada pyaar shayad hi kisi aur ghar mein hota.

“I would want to do something on stage also when the renovation work is done. Woh toh abhi plan hi kar rahe hain but haan main pakka aane wala hoon,” added the actor.