Youth recall

Celebrities reminisce their best college memories — from their best hangout place to their favourite dish on the canteen menu.

The best times of college are definitely not those spent inside the classroom. That’s what celebrities like actor Shazahn Padamsee, singer Vishal Dadlani and model Candice Pinto tell you as they remember their good ol’ days of bunking classes and chatting at a humble chai joint outside college.

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‘I proposed to my wife on campus’ Taufiq Qureshi, musician, St. Xavier’s College, B.A EconomicsFavourite hangout place Association room and the canteen. These were the only two places where you could catch me in college! Best canteen dish The amazing keema-bread and chai. Most memorable experienceI have many. Firstly, I discovered myself as a musician in college. In my first year, I went on to win the best Indian classical intrumentalist at Malhar as well as in IIT Chennai, IIT Kanpur, St. Stephens, Delhi and IIT Bombay. Also, I met my wife Geetika at college. In fact, after I graduated, I brought her back to college and proposed to her on the campus! It was during this time that I overcame my shyness to speak to girls. Advice to collegians Look forward to all the opportunities that college has to offer.‘I’d bunk college to eat ice-cream outside’ Shazahn Padamsee, actor, Jai Hind College, B.A Favourite hangout placeA dessert corner called ‘Cups & Cones’ outside college. We’d bunk lectures and chill out there. Best canteen dishIce cream because I’ve always been and will be crazy about it. Most memorable experienceI remember not being a great student, but college brought out a drive in me to excel in whatever else I wanted to do. I found my calling as an actor there. Advice to collegiansEnjoy these days because they leave you with the best memories to cherish later in life.

Favourite hangout placeI would attend college in the morning and work after that. So, there was no time to ‘hang out’. Best canteen dishBack then, I didn’t receive any pocket money. So, I couldn’t afford to buy anything from the canteens at St. Xavier’s and National College Most memorable experience Well, I don’t have any pleasant memories of college. I studied for one year at Xavier’s, a place that I found very elite and up-market. I was always in self-doubt there. But when I joined National College, I felt better in the company of middle-class students. Advice to collegians If you have to really learn, you must look beyond the syllabus. Textbooks don’t carry the lessons you need to sail through hardships in life.

‘My modelling career started off during college’ Candice Pinto, model, SIES College, B.A Economics

Favourite hangout placeOur canteen was the most happening place in college. We’d also skip morning classes to go a restaurant called Gurukripa nearby, which was famous for its samosas. Best canteen dishMisal pav and Chinese sczechwan rice. Most memorable experienceI was still in college when I won Gladrags Megamodel in 2000. My attendance had been dropping, but thanks to the support of my teachers, especially Asha Lata, in college, I graduated. That was a big relief! Also, I remember being scared of ragging on my first day of college. But since my brother was a senior, I was spared any trouble. Advice to collegians Even if you are planning to pursue a career in a creative field, it’s good to finish college so that you always have something to fall back on.