With board exams now over, many students across India are figuring out their next big step, choosing the right college and course. Among the many prestigious institutions, Delhi University’s Hindu College continues to stand out, not just for academics but also for producing some of India’s most renowned actors and filmmakers. Over the years, several Bollywood personalities have walked its corridors before making it big in the entertainment industry. Here’s a look at some well-known names and how their journey began at Hindu College.
Arjun Rampal
Before becoming a successful actor, Arjun Rampal studied Economics (Honours) at Hindu College between 1990 and 1993. He has often spoken about how much he enjoyed his college life, especially his time in the hostel. Today, he is known for films like Rock On!!, Raajneeti, and the Dhurandhar franchise, where he continues to impress audiences with his performances. He is currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Imtiaz Ali
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali graduated with a BA (Honours) in English in 1993. He has frequently credited Hindu College for shaping his creative thinking and storytelling style. Over the years, he has directed several popular films including Jab We Met, Rockstar, Tamasha, Highway, and Amar Singh Chamkila, making him one of the most respected directors in the industry.
Tisca Chopra
Actor and author Tisca Chopra often recalls her time at Hindu College with deep nostalgia. In a social media post in 2024 celebrating the institution, she described it as a place that played a major role in shaping her personality and outlook towards life. She is known for her performances in films like Taare Zameen Par, Qissa, and Murder Mubarak, among others.
Ashish Vidyarthi
National Award-winning actor Ashish Vidyarthi is another prominent alumnus. Known for his powerful roles across multiple languages, he has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali and more. He even received recognition from Hindu College for his contribution to cinema and theatre. His performance in Drohkaal remains one of his most celebrated works and also received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor on 1955.
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj’s journey is one of the most interesting among Hindu College alumni. Before entering films, he was deeply involved in cricket and even faced setbacks that changed his path. In an interview with Platform magazine, he recalled how missing out on cricket opportunities pushed him towards music and storytelling. Today, he is known for critically acclaimed films like Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider, along with his work as a music composer.
Loveleen Tandan
Loveleen Tandan, who studied Sociology at Hindu College, went on to co-direct the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire alongside Danny Boyle. She has also built a strong career in casting and filmmaking, working on projects like Monsoon Wedding and Brick Lane. Her journey shows how diverse career paths can emerge from a strong academic foundation.
Imran Zahid
Imran Zahid completed his B.Com from Hindu College and later pursued a career in theatre and films. Known for being mentored by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, he has been part of notable productions like The Last Salute and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin.
Manish Tiwary
Director and writer Manish Tiwary studied Zoology at Hindu College, as reported by TOI. He has directed films like Dil Dosti Etc and Issaq, both of which explore youth and relationships in a relatable way. Interestingly, the same report stated that Dil Dosti Etc is set in Delhi University, drawing inspiration from his own college experiences.
Alok Nath
Alok Nath, widely recognised for his “sanskaari” roles in Indian cinema and television, is also an alumnus of Hindu College. He began his journey in theatre before gaining fame in films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Vivah. His association with the college adds to its legacy of producing versatile actors.
Saqib Saleem
Actor Saqib Saleem, known for films like Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, Mere Dad Ki Maruti, and ’83, also studied at Hindu College. In an earlier interview with TOI, he shared that returning to his college always feels special and credited the institution for shaping who he is today.
"Today I have come to promote my movie here. Whatever I am today is because of this institution. It is always great to come back to your own college. There is no better institute than Hindu College."
Kapil Batra
Kapil Batra, another Hindu College alumnus, has made a mark as a director in the film industry. While not as widely known as some of his peers, his work in media and cinema shows the creative environment fostered by the college.
Abhishek Chaubey
Filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey, known for directing films like Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya, and Udta Punjab, is also linked to Hindu College. His storytelling style and strong narratives have earned him critical acclaim in Bollywood.
In 2024 interview with Hindustan Times, he said, "I went to Delhi to study further and got into Hindu College. That’s when this pipe dream of doing something related to films started shaping up. I became a member of the film society in college, and started doing theatre. I also chose my friends carefully. I made friends with people who were interested in world cinema. Till that point in time, for me, there was no concept of a film which is not in English or Hindi, because I used to think, “How can one watch a film in a language they don’t understand?” But then I got the opportunity to watch some very good international films. I was already interested in the grammar of a film at a subconscious level, and after watching those films I started getting aware of the grammar in a conscious way."
Manoj Kumar
Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, known for his patriotic films, also studied at Hindu College. In a piece written for the college magazine, as reported by PTI, he once shared that he found shelter on the campus during the Partition riots, an experience that stayed with him for life. His films like Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim remain iconic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actors of Indian cinema.
Motilal
One of the pioneers of natural acting in Hindi cinema, Motilal is also listed among Hindu College’s distinguished alumni. He starred in films like Devdas, Anari, and Paigham, and is remembered for bringing realism to performances at a time when theatrical acting was more common.
Vikas Chandra
Filmmaker Vikas Chandra, who studied at Delhi University, has worked across Kannada cinema, television, and OTT platforms. Starting as an assistant director, he gradually built his career in storytelling and direction.
Hindu College’s legacy goes far beyond academics. From actors to directors and writers, its alumni have made significant contributions to Indian cinema. Stay tuned!
Arjun Rampal
Before becoming a successful actor, Arjun Rampal studied Economics (Honours) at Hindu College between 1990 and 1993. He has often spoken about how much he enjoyed his college life, especially his time in the hostel. Today, he is known for films like Rock On!!, Raajneeti, and the Dhurandhar franchise, where he continues to impress audiences with his performances. He is currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Imtiaz Ali
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali graduated with a BA (Honours) in English in 1993. He has frequently credited Hindu College for shaping his creative thinking and storytelling style. Over the years, he has directed several popular films including Jab We Met, Rockstar, Tamasha, Highway, and Amar Singh Chamkila, making him one of the most respected directors in the industry.
Imtiaz Ali is currently shooting for Main Vaapas Aaunga
Tisca Chopra
Actor and author Tisca Chopra often recalls her time at Hindu College with deep nostalgia. In a social media post in 2024 celebrating the institution, she described it as a place that played a major role in shaping her personality and outlook towards life. She is known for her performances in films like Taare Zameen Par, Qissa, and Murder Mubarak, among others.
Ashish Vidyarthi
National Award-winning actor Ashish Vidyarthi is another prominent alumnus. Known for his powerful roles across multiple languages, he has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali and more. He even received recognition from Hindu College for his contribution to cinema and theatre. His performance in Drohkaal remains one of his most celebrated works and also received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor on 1955.
Ashish Vidyarthi was last seen in The Traitors on Prime Video
Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj’s journey is one of the most interesting among Hindu College alumni. Before entering films, he was deeply involved in cricket and even faced setbacks that changed his path. In an interview with Platform magazine, he recalled how missing out on cricket opportunities pushed him towards music and storytelling. Today, he is known for critically acclaimed films like Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider, along with his work as a music composer.
Loveleen Tandan
Loveleen Tandan, who studied Sociology at Hindu College, went on to co-direct the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire alongside Danny Boyle. She has also built a strong career in casting and filmmaking, working on projects like Monsoon Wedding and Brick Lane. Her journey shows how diverse career paths can emerge from a strong academic foundation.
Imran Zahid
Imran Zahid completed his B.Com from Hindu College and later pursued a career in theatre and films. Known for being mentored by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, he has been part of notable productions like The Last Salute and Ab Dilli Dur Nahin.
Manish Tiwary
Director and writer Manish Tiwary studied Zoology at Hindu College, as reported by TOI. He has directed films like Dil Dosti Etc and Issaq, both of which explore youth and relationships in a relatable way. Interestingly, the same report stated that Dil Dosti Etc is set in Delhi University, drawing inspiration from his own college experiences.
Alok Nath
Alok Nath, widely recognised for his “sanskaari” roles in Indian cinema and television, is also an alumnus of Hindu College. He began his journey in theatre before gaining fame in films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and Vivah. His association with the college adds to its legacy of producing versatile actors.
Saqib Saleem is also an alumni of Hindu College
Saqib Saleem
Actor Saqib Saleem, known for films like Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, Mere Dad Ki Maruti, and ’83, also studied at Hindu College. In an earlier interview with TOI, he shared that returning to his college always feels special and credited the institution for shaping who he is today.
"Today I have come to promote my movie here. Whatever I am today is because of this institution. It is always great to come back to your own college. There is no better institute than Hindu College."
Kapil Batra
Kapil Batra, another Hindu College alumnus, has made a mark as a director in the film industry. While not as widely known as some of his peers, his work in media and cinema shows the creative environment fostered by the college.
Abhishek Chaubey
Filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey, known for directing films like Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya, and Udta Punjab, is also linked to Hindu College. His storytelling style and strong narratives have earned him critical acclaim in Bollywood.
In 2024 interview with Hindustan Times, he said, "I went to Delhi to study further and got into Hindu College. That’s when this pipe dream of doing something related to films started shaping up. I became a member of the film society in college, and started doing theatre. I also chose my friends carefully. I made friends with people who were interested in world cinema. Till that point in time, for me, there was no concept of a film which is not in English or Hindi, because I used to think, “How can one watch a film in a language they don’t understand?” But then I got the opportunity to watch some very good international films. I was already interested in the grammar of a film at a subconscious level, and after watching those films I started getting aware of the grammar in a conscious way."
Manoj Kumar
Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, known for his patriotic films, also studied at Hindu College. In a piece written for the college magazine, as reported by PTI, he once shared that he found shelter on the campus during the Partition riots, an experience that stayed with him for life. His films like Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim remain iconic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actors of Indian cinema.
Motilal
One of the pioneers of natural acting in Hindi cinema, Motilal is also listed among Hindu College’s distinguished alumni. He starred in films like Devdas, Anari, and Paigham, and is remembered for bringing realism to performances at a time when theatrical acting was more common.
Vikas Chandra
Filmmaker Vikas Chandra, who studied at Delhi University, has worked across Kannada cinema, television, and OTT platforms. Starting as an assistant director, he gradually built his career in storytelling and direction.
Hindu College’s legacy goes far beyond academics. From actors to directors and writers, its alumni have made significant contributions to Indian cinema. Stay tuned!
