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Top B-Town folks pool in Rs 7 crore to fund Delhi alma mater Kirori Mal’s theatre

Big B draws big bucks...

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Delhi’s Kirori Mal College's auditorium has been the stage to debut performances of top Bollywood personalities from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Satish Kaushik, Kabir Khan, Vijay Krishna Acharya to name some. But unfortunately, in the last few years, the theatre is in shambles requiring an urgent facelift. 

Recently, veteran actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik, who is an alumnus of the college, got the industry stalwarts to pitch in for their alma mater’s renovation. “It was disheartening to see the auditorium in a dilapidated state. Some time ago, the college [authorities] decided to raze it. I spoke to the current principal about it and we decided to raise funds,”  he told a tabloid.

And the first name that came to Kaushik’s mind was that of Big B. “He is our torch bearer and was gracious enough to lend support [to the initiative]. In fact, it was Amitji who came up with the idea of making a video with the star alumni appealing for funds. He also agreed to visit the college in April,” he informs.

The renovation cost is tagged at Rs 7 crore, the design has been finalised and the college has hired a well-known architect for the project. “We plan to convert it into a state-of-the-art auditorium and name it after one of our professors, Frank Thakurdas, who was instrumental in shaping our careers. We also intend to raise money through other means. Proceeds from some of my plays in Delhi will go into rebuilding the theatre. I have also requested Anupam Kher to do the same.”

Yesterday, at an event in the city, Bachchan revealed he has donated Rs 51 lakh for the renovation. “I studied science at Kirori Mal from 1959-62, but Professor Thakurdas, who taught us English, encouraged me to pursue theatre. Those years of learning have stayed with me and help me till date. I have seen the condition of the theatre where I performed and it is really sad. That’s why we have joined hands to resurrect it.”

Director Ali Abbas Zafar who also graduated from Kirori Mal said, “Our professor, Keval Arora, has been addressing this issue for a while and we want to assure them [authorities] that we are joining in.” He has planned a few musical shows to garner funds: “The music of all three of my films (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Gunday and Sultan) are popular. I am requesting artistes to come together for a concert of sorts at the college to raise funds."

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