Mumbai, 16 August 2025 – Malhar 2025, St. Xavier’s College’s iconic annual festival, brought together voices from politics, cinema, sports, literature, and law in two days of stimulating Conclave sessions, balanced by star-studded evenings of music and celebration.
The Conclave on 15th August opened with Dr. Seema Rao, India’s first woman commando trainer, who urged students: “Don’t be afraid to walk on the path alone. Freedom requires the courage to stand alone.”
Actors Pratik Gandhi, Sunny Hinduja, Kritika Kamra, Anup Soni, and Suhail Nayyar discussed the changing film and OTT landscape, while actress Saiyami Kher reflected on resilience: “99 percent of times, you would fail in auditions.. but conviction and consistency matter most.”
Entrepreneurs Akhil Iyer and Shriya Narayan, founders of Benne, shared their journey in building a café brand rooted in South Indian authenticity, while sports icons Amol Muzumdar, Suma Shirur, and Paralympian Bhagyashree Jadhav spoke of discipline and perseverance. The day closed with the star cast of Param Sundari as Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor addressed the organising team, praising Malhar’s youthful energy.
Day-2 of the Conclave opened with Honourable Justice Revati Mohite Dere who drew from landmark cases to highlight law as a tool for revolution, resonating with Malhar’s theme “Leher: a ripple today, a revolution tomorrow.”
Politician Supriya Sule emphasized accountability in governance, noting: “Policy-making is an opportunity to change people’s lives. Sometimes the good and bad are thrown at you, but you must be the decision maker.”
Author Ashwin Sanghi spoke about the “three E’s” of storytelling, Entertainment, Education, and Enlightenment. Actor Aditya Roy Kapur closed the Conclave with a nostalgic return to Xavier’s, recalling theatre clubs as “one of the best years of my life.” To aspiring actors, he advised:
“Just start. Every time you do something, you learn a little bit more about yourself.”
The festival concluded with a concert in the quadrangle as DJ Rajiv and Chaar Diwaari lit up the evening with electrifying sets, leaving the audience roaring and dancing. Blending dialogue with performance, Malhar 2025 reaffirmed its legacy as a festival of ideas, culture, and celebration.
