Seven top Bollywood actors stayed in Delhi University (DU) hostels during college: Amitabh Bachchan to Archana Puran Singh to Imtiaz Ali

Before they became some of Bollywood's most popular names, several actors and filmmakers spent their college years living in Delhi University (DU) hostels. From Amitabh Bachchan’s nostalgic memories of his Kirori Mal College hostel room to Imtiaz Ali’s chaotic tales from Hindu College, these hostels were more than just places to stay, they became an important part of their formative years. Here’s a look at the Bollywood stars who once called DU hostels home and the memories they have shared about their college days.

Amitabh Bachchan - Kirori Mal College Hostel

Room No. 27 in Kirori Mal College’s hostel is no ordinary hostel room. It is remembered for having been occupied by one of Indian cinema’s biggest stars, Amitabh Bachchan. During Kaun Banega Crorepati 15 in 2023, Big B was overcome with nostalgia when a contestant revealed he studied at the same college and had stayed in the same hostel room where the actor once lived.


The contestant told Bachchan that he was his junior at Kirori Mal College and had been living in the same room for three years. Recalling his own college days, Bachchan spoke about how he and his friends would even cross the wall near the hostel to watch movies. The episode also featured a video of Kirori Mal College, where the actor had graduated with a BSc degree.



Anurag Kashyap - Hansraj College Hostel

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap stayed at the Hansraj College hostel while studying zoology at Delhi University in the early 1990s. In an interview with TOI in 2019, the Gangs of Wasseypur director recalled his hostel days with considerable fondness, saying that he might not have survived in Mumbai had he not first experienced hostel life at Hansraj.

Remembering his college days, Anurag said the hostel food was very good at the time and recalled how students would even sneak into weddings held on the college grounds. Speaking about his return to the campus, he described the experience as emotional.

Arjun Rampal - Hindu College Hostel

Actor Arjun Rampal stayed at the Hindu College hostel while studying Economics at Delhi University from 1990 to 1993. On March 15, 2021, the Dhurandhar actor shared a candid video on Instagram from a visit to his alma mater, taking fans inside the college and showing the hostel room where he had stayed during his student days.

In the video, the actor pointed out his old room and interacted with students who had gathered to meet him. His visit offered a glimpse into the college years before he entered Bollywood and became known for films such as Ra.One.

Imtiaz Ali - Hindu College Boys' Hostel

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali lived in the historic Hindu College Boys' Hostel during his undergraduate years at Delhi University, a period that has often found its way into his storytelling and anecdotes.

During a recent promotion for Main Vaapas Aaunga, Ali recalled a particularly chaotic incident from his hostel days involving student politics and a local gang. According to his account, as he explained on Unfiltered by Samdish podcast, a political poster had been pasted across the front wall of the hostel. He removed it and put it on the side wall because he wanted the building to look neat. Days later, he was picked up in the middle of the night. The bizarre incident remains one of his memorable stories from his Hindu College days.

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub - Kirori Mal College Hostel

Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub was closely associated with Kirori Mal College and its hostel during his years at Delhi University, where he pursued a bachelor's degree in science. His college life was deeply connected with both the hostel and the college auditorium.

The actor has recalled being heavily involved in campus life, including hostel politics and campaigns for hostel presidents. He was also an active member of Players, KMC's well-known dramatics society, which played an important role in his early connection with theatre and performance.

Rasika Dugal - Lady Shri Ram College Hostel

Rasika Dugal stayed at the Lady Shri Ram College for Women hostel during her time at Delhi University, where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. In a 2022 interview with The Times of India, the actress recalled the close bond she shared with her roommates and memories of going out for late-night Moolchand paranthas.

At the same time, Dugal has spoken humorously about the stricter side of hostel life, particularly the 7 pm curfew she had to follow as a student. She has described the curfew as “ridiculous”, while still looking back fondly at the friendships and experiences she made during her years at LSR.

Archana Puran Singh - Lady Shri Ram College Hostel

Archana Puran Singh stayed at the Lady Shri Ram College for Women hostel while pursuing a B.A. (Honours) in English at Delhi University. Moving from Dehradun to Delhi, she initially struggled with homesickness and even wrote to her father asking if she could return home.

However, her father advised her to give Delhi and college life a few months. She eventually settled into the hostel, made close friendships and grew attached to the experience. Those years became an important phase of her life before she eventually moved to Mumbai to pursue modelling and acting.

Chitrangada Singh - Lady Irwin College Hostel

Actress Chitrangada Singh spent three years in the girls' hostel at Lady Irwin College while completing her graduation in Home Science from Delhi University. In a 2018 interview with The Times of India, she recalled both the humorous and difficult sides of hostel life.

As an army kid adjusting to college, the actress experienced strict hostel routines and memorable ragging rituals. She recalled seniors making her carry her books in a bucket and asking her to style her hair into 40 oiled braids. At the same time, she remembers midnight Maggi sessions and outings to Bengali Market fondly.

Singh has also spoken candidly about the safety concerns she faced as a young woman in Delhi during the 1990s, recalling incidents of eve-teasing on public buses and encounters with unruly local boys near the hostel gates.