I was fined for not attending a single class in the first year of my college: Manish Paul

From bunking classes to finding love on the campus, actor Manish Paul shares stories of his CVS college days.

When actor Manish Paul came on stage at the College of Vocational Studies (CVS), not only was he welcomed with hoots and cheers but also with girls screaming “I love you, Manish.”

Actor Manish Paul talked about love, bunking classes and favourite addas around his college.

“It was the warmest welcome that I’ve received. In fact, principal ma’am came on stage and said she hadn’t seen such a massive crowd in the past eight years,” says Paul, who visited his alma mater for the first time after he graduated in 2002.

Narrating the anecdote, which every student in CVS is aware of, Paul says, “I got fined ` 2000 for not attending a single class in my first year. Maine toh ek bhi class attend nahi ki thi kyonki mai cultural quota (ECA quota) se aaya tha. Par mai ECA practice pe bhi nahi jata tha... aur jab fine laga 2000 ka, toh maine kaha ki yaar tum 2000 ki jagah 6000 hi lelo, teeno saal ka kaam ho jayega kyunki mai class toh teeno saal attend nahi karunga.” To this, the students were in splits.

But where would he spend all the time? “Kabhi practice kar leta tha ya phir bahar tafri karta tha. Aur bahar casette waale ke paas jaakar apne favourite gaane chalwate the. Girls’ college Kamala Nehru College and Jesus and Mary College were my favourite colleges to go to, because my wife (who was my girlfriend then) was in KNC.”

Telling us about his love life, Paul says that he’d be representing his college at every cultural competition in KNC, since his girlfriend (now wife)was a student there. “Jisse uss din gaana gana hota tha, uska magically gala kharab ho jaata tha, aur who mujhe hi bhej dete the.”

When it came to giving his two cents to the students, he says, in his signature humour, “Dear boys, your job is to look after the girls in college. I shouldn’t get a complain that CVS guy has eve-teased a girl. Always respect women. Aur ladkiyo, tumhaare do haath hai, dho dena us bande ko shiddat se.”