Bollywood tips: There’s always sports quota, assures Vishal Bhardwaj

He’s one of Bollywood’s best filmmakers, but it was cricket that got Vishal Bhardwaj college admission. The filmmaker-musician shares college tips from his Delhi University days.

He’s one of Bollywood’s best filmmakers, but it was cricket that got Vishal Bhardwaj college admission. The filmmaker-musician shares college tips from his Delhi University days.



Not many know that I got into through sports quota. I used to play cricket and Gursharan Singh (­former cricketer), who was the captain of my team during a tournament, told me that I should come to Delhi. I did BA Pass, which we used to call the ‘royal course’ at that time. Students from sports quota, aspiring artists, basically those who didn’t want to study, opted for it!



I had come from Meerut, and being from a small town, college was a totally new world for me. I met so many musicians and learned music here. I’d have never become a composer or a filmmaker had I not studied here. College also brought newfound freedom. But to the aspirants, I want to say that this freedom and liberty come with responsibilities. And hey outstation students, don’t ever feel like a misfit. Always remember that it is the people from outside who make it big.



Even in films, people who’ve come from outside Bombay have done better. I came from a small town, but never felt lonely because I stayed in the college hostel and everyone immediately became family, including the hostel staff. I remember living on bun-anda, roaming around till 4 in the morning, buying booze at 2 am.

Vishal-Bhardwaj

Vishal claims he became a music composer to impress wife Rekha (she was a senior in college)!



Unlike most guys, we never hung out around Miranda House, because the girls in our ­college were so pretty. Rekha (wife, singer Rekha Bhardwaj) was my senior and just to woo her, I became a composer. But, she was not the first one I tried to woo. I had many heartbreaks before that!



I loved the campus so much that even after graduating, I kept coming back. In fact, I made Imtiaz Ali (filmmaker, Hindu college graduate), who was many years my junior, have his first drink. He still remembers.



College ke kissey

Marks in 12th: 52.2% (UP board);

College: Hindu College, BA (Pass) 1986

High point: Friendship with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and getting him to have his first drink!

Low point: Heartbreaks before he met wife Rekha Bhardwaj.

Tip to outstation students: It’s always the people that come from outside who make it big.



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