The Campus Stopover

Students,on their part,aren’t always overjoyed about being on Bollywood’s promotional circuit. While many students queue to watch the stars,others snub these “publicity stunts”. Chhayankdhar Rathore,a third year student of St Stephen’s College,says,“When these shooting crews come to college,they completely take over the campus. The Rockstar team came during our mid-term exams. Our college is a heritage site,and I think such shoots spoil its entire atmosphere.” In JNU,actor Sonam Kapoor roamed the grounds to soak in the “JNU feel” and most students gave her no more than a cursory look.

Nonetheless,when Rockstar Kapoor paid a visit to Hindu College to promote his film,there was almost a stampede. “One doesn’t get to see one’s favourite actor in person very often. So,when these stars come to college,there is bound to be a lot of excitement,” says Manisha Kapoor,a second-year DU student.

“In DU,students are of an impressionable age but JNU students are mature as they are mostly pursuing their post-graduation courses,MPhils or PhDs,” says Natasha Singh Raghuvanshi,an MPhil (International Relations) student. Prakash K Ray,who is pursuing his PhD in cinema studies from JNU,agrees: “You won’t see these students badgering stars for their autographs”.

In JNU,intellect seems to win over glamour. When the Shanghai team — Dibakar Banerjee,Kalki Koechlin and Abhay Deol — arrived for a discussion,JNU students,armed with their own ideologies and beliefs took them on over the film’s political subject. Irrfan met with the same welcome before the release of Paan Singh Tomar.

“About 2,500 students were part of the discussion with Irrfan,” says Ray,who organised the interaction. Similarly,Avinash Das,a cinema activist who is also a part of the organising committee that brings Bollywood stars to JNU,says,“A lot of Bollywood actors can’t interact like Dibakar or Irrfan,who are intellectual individuals. Salman Khan ko log sirf dekhne aayenge,lekin Irrfan se log baat karne aayenge.”