“Aaj humara, kal apna… koi maane ya na maane. Apni hasti hai, masti ke haseen taraane…” Okay, I might have gotten a bit carried away, but who wouldn’t? I bet anybody who grew up watching this show would have sung along with me (and maybe, the entire title track too. Hehe!). I still remember when my elder sister and I would watch the show together and dream of having a high school as rocking as theirs. The show gave us enough memories to last a lifetime and made our childhood a bit more amazing!
Source: Scroll.in
Directed by Nupur Asthana, Hip Hip Hurray first aired in 1998 and chronicled the lives of a bunch of high school teenagers who were dealing with a number of issues like peer pressure, ambitions, drug abuse, adulthood, etc. Their friendships, ‘pehla pehla pyaar’, mischievous escapades, their ‘I-want-to-grow-up-now’ phases, fears, hopes and dreams – were all very relatable to teenagers growing up during that time. Last year, when the show completed 20 years, the star cast even made a sweet little video that got us feeling super nostalgic. Check it out:
Wondering what these ‘grown-up’ kids and teachers of DeNobili High School have been up to, lately? Read on to find out:
1. Purab Kohli as Mazhar
After making his acting debut in Hip Hip Hurray, Purab soon became a popular face in Bollywood. He aced the role of the cute ‘lover-boy’ at DeNobili High School and charmed all the ladies! 21 years later, he continues to do the same – with his phenomenal acting and killer looks. After his stint as a video jockey on Channel V for a few years, he ventured into showbiz and starred in many television shows and Bollywood movies. He is mostly remembered for his roles in Rock On!!, Airlift and Rock On 2. He was last seen in a Voot web series called It’s Not That Simple. Last year, he married his girlfriend, Lucy Payton, and is now a father to a beautiful baby girl, Inaya.
Source: Instagram
2. Peeya Rai Chowdhary as Kiran
Peeya played the role of a spoilt little brat in Hip Hip Hurray and was adored by everyone. She did several Bollywood films like Bhoot, Chupke Se, Vastu Shastra, Darna Mana Hai, and My Brother… Nikhil to name a few. She is mostly remembered for her roles in Bride & Prejudice and The Bong Connection. She is currently settled in Goa with her husband, Tino Sanchez, and works as a director/co-founder to a multi-disciplinary performing arts company called Omaggio.
Source: Instagram
3. Vishal Malhotra as John
Vishal was the most jovial, ‘happy-go-lucky’ member of the gang and made everyone laugh with his cute mischiefs. And the best thing about him is that he hasn’t changed a bit! He still remains just as good looking, lovable and entertaining as he was before. After making his Bollywood debut in Ishq Vishq, he seemed to be on a roll! He starred in several popular Bollywood movies like Dor, Kaal, Salaam-E-Ishq, Jannat, Kismat Konnection, Talaash, Happy New Year, etc and in television shows such as Shararat, Vicky & Vetaal, Kuch Toh Log Kahengey to name a few. He also hosted a reality show called Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and was last seen in a comedy series called Khatmal E Ishq.
Source: Instagram
4. Nauheed Cyrusi as Meera
Nauheed played the role of a sweet little studious girl in Hip Hip Hurray and later rose to the fame with a Sufi song, Piya Basanti Re. She was then seen in several Bollywood movies like Inteha, Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, Kurbaan, Jai Ho to name a few. She also participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (Season 2) and continues to remain a popular face across the industry.
Source: Instagram
5. Rushad Rana as Raghav
Acing the role of an unbeatable sports captain of DeNobili High School, Rushad impressed everyone with his acting skills. Later, he not only played supporting roles in Bollywood movies like Veer-Zaara, Dor, Maatr, Rangoon, etc but also starred in numerous television shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, India Calling, Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan and many more. He is mostly remembered for his roles in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Sasural Simar Ka and Crime Patrol.
Source: Instagram
6. Sharokh Bharucha as Cyrus
Before his epic performance as a ‘class clown’ in Hip Hip Hurray, he had already charmed his way into our hearts with his memorable child stints in Bollywood movies like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Later, he was also seen in television shows like Kareena Kareena and Rishtey, but soon bid adieu to his acting career forever. He is now happily settled in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and daughter, and is a banker by profession!
Source: Facebook
7. Nilanjana Sharma Sengupta as Mona
Nilanjana was the smart and sensible head girl of DeNobili High School and the lead actress of the show. After her stint in Hip Hip Hurray, she was seen in a few other television shows like Rishtey, Janeman Janeman and Lekin Woh Sach Tha but stayed in the Hindi TV industry only for a while. She soon entered the Bengali film cinema and starred in several Bengali shows and feature films for which she received acclaimed. As a successful Bengali film producer, she is now happily married to a Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta and has two daughters, Sara and Zara.
Source: Tellychakkar
8. Mehul Nisar as Mehul
Mehul aced the role of an adorable foodie and class topper of DeNobili High School and was undeniably one of the most loved characters on the show. Since then, he became a familiar face across the television industry and worked in more than 25 shows like CID, Raat Hone Ko Hai, Ssshhhh… Koi Hai, Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli, Chidiya Ghar, Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan and many more. He was last seen in a show called Qayamat Ki Raat. He lives with his wife, Sheetal, and a son named Tanmay.
Source: Instagram
9. Shveta Salve as Prishita
Shveta was ‘the hot’ girl every boy in DeNobili High School had a crush on. Owing to her beautiful features and brilliant acting, she starred in several Bollywood films and television shows but is mostly remembered as Dr Ritu Mishra on Left Right Left. She was praised for her dancing skills in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 1, where she bagged the first runner-up position. Later, she also participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 2. She is now married to her boyfriend, Hermit Sethi, and has a baby girl named Arya.
Source: Instagram
10. Samantha Tremayne Sirohi as Samantha
Do you remember that little ball of energy at DeNobili High School we all loved? That was Samantha – free of ambiguity and the most chilled-out member of the show! You might know her as the ‘Akaash-obsessed’ girl from Dil Chahta Hai. She also went on to do daily soaps for a while, and starred in a few movies like Saathiya and Shobhayatra. She always seemed to leave an impact on our hearts – despite her limited screen-space. Nowadays, she lives with her husband and child, and runs a company called Independent Motion Pictures and Film Professional.
Source: MTVIndia
11. Kishwer Merchant as Nonie
Kishwer essayed the role of an NRI chick at DeNobili High School who later falls in love with Mazhar and gives us a good dose of teenage romance in the show! She has been a familiar face in the industry ever since and remains one of the most popular television celebrities in India. Although she starred in numerous daily soaps, her most memorable performances have been in shows like Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar, Ek Hasina Thi and Har Mushkil Ka Hal: Akbar Birbal. She was also a part of Bigg Boss Season 9 which she participated with her husband-actor, Suyyash Rai. She is currently, participating in the Box Cricket League 4 on MTV.
Source: Instagram
12. Zafar Karachiwala as Rafey
We all remember the die-hard romantic, Rafey, don’t we? After playing the role of a brooding love-struck boy in Hip Hip Hurray, Zafar was seen in many critically acclaimed Bollywood movies like Manasarovar, Superstar, A Mighty Heart, 68 Pages and Delhi Belly. He continues to star in several television commercials but is now, more active in the field of theatre. He is currently settled in Mumbai with his wife, Ahlam Khan, and plans to concentrate more on script-writing and direction.
Source: Facebook
13. Suchitra Pillai as Alaknanda Ma’am
Suchitra rose to fame after playing the role of the attractive physics teacher, whom every student had a crush on! She soon became a popular face in the industry and starred in several Bollywood movies and daily soap operas. She is mostly remembered for her performances in Dil Chahta Hai, Page 3, Fashion, Beintehaa and Ek-Shringaar: Swabhiman. She often does dub-overs for Hollywood movies and even starred in one called The Valley. Apart from being an actor and a theatre artist, she is also a well-known singer. In fact, she even has her own music album!
Source: Instagram
14. Vinay Pathak as Vinnie Sir
This man obviously needs no introduction. As a wonderful English teacher at DeNobili High School, he was one of our most admired idols in Hip Hip Hurray. And we continue to remain a fan of his work, till date! Some of his most unforgettable performances are in films like Bheja Fry, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Oh, My God, Badlapur, Fatso! and Toba Tek Singh. Apart from being a successful television presenter, theatre artist and an actor, he is also a well-known film producer. He was last seen in a web series called Made In Heaven and a Bollywood movie called Luka Chuppi.
Source: Instagram
15. Sanjay Mishra as Chandragupta Sir
Before caving a niche for himself in Bollywood, he starred in many television shows including Hip Hip Hurray in which he played the role of an art teacher at DeNobili High School. Soon, he became one of the most immensely talented and famous actors across the industry. His list of Bollywood movies and television shows is endless, but he was most loved for his versatile performances in movies like Dhamaal, Phas Gaye Re Obama, Dum Lage Ke Haisha, Ankhon Dekhi, Badshaaho, Masaan and Kadvi Hawa. He also received critical acclaim and bagged several awards for the same.
Source: Instagram
Fun Fact: Even two decades later, the team of Hip Hip Hurray continues to remain in touch with each other, despite their busy schedules. They have a Whatsapp group called ‘HHH’ through which they regularly chat with each other and share beautiful and fun memories from their show’s journey! Craving for a HHH reunion now, aren’t we?
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