Big B’s b’day: KMC invites its star alumnus back

Big B’s b’day: KMC invites its star alumnus backOne may wonder what makes Kirori Mal College’s auditorium so special, but for The Players, KMC’s theatre society, and MUSOC, its music society, it is a place where generations of students learnt about themselves and the world. For some, the auditorium was the college itself. So, when it was left in a dilapidated state for years, the college administration, with the help of its alumni, joined forces to save their home. After multiple meetings and sustained efforts involving celebrated alumni including Amitabh Bachchan, Ali Abbas Zafar, Satish Kaushik, Raj Shekhar, Sargun Mehta, Siddharth, Divyendu, Zeeshan Ayyub and Anant Vidhaat, the auditorium is finally back in shape – ready to be reopened soon.A few days before Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday, a delegation led by Principal Dinesh Khattar met the actor on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati. And since no meeting with a KMC alumni is complete without a mention of the auditorium, the meeting saw the principal invite Bachchan to the college next year for the inauguration.‘Mr Bachchan’s support in renovating this auditorium has been immense’Bachchan fondly recalled his KMC days and Frank Thakurdas, the mentor who shaped his early acting career and gives the renovated auditorium its name.During the interaction, the principal formally invited Big B to inaugurate the renovated Frank Thakurdas Memorial Auditorium. “He responded graciously, expressing his willingnessto attend, subject to his professional commitments,” shared Principal Dinesh Khattar with us. “For us, it was a special occasion and from the KM staff and college, we would like to congratulate Mr Bachchan on his birthday today. His support in renovating this auditorium has been immense. For me personally, the reopening of the auditorium will represent not simply the completion of an infrastructure project, but the fulfillment of a cherished dream. Buildings acquire meaning through the lives that unfold within them, and I look forward to seeing the Frank Thakurdas Memorial Auditorium become, once again, the beating heart of Kirori Mal College,” he added.‘The auditorium has been a site of play, work and an exposure to the world’One person who has witnessed the auditorium’s fall, its difficult years and now its revival is Keval Arora. As the former staff advisor of The Players, he remembers how on issue led to another, keeping the auditorium out of use for years. “For generations of members of The Players, and I am no exception, the auditorium has been home. It is a site of playand work, with others and by oneself, an exposure to the world, its people, systems and values, a place of refuge. We are very thankful to our Principal Dinesh Khattar for his unwavering commitment and sustained efforts towards realising this dream,” he told us.Shalini Baxi, Convenor, Culture Council, KMC, and an alumna of the college’s music society, adds, “For me, the occasion was especially meaningful. It was a celebration not merely of a distinguished alumnus, but of the extraordinary cultural legacy of KMC.”Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!