The Alliance Française de Delhi (AFD) was registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act 1860 on 30th June 1956. Earlier known as the Cercle Français, it began its new existence in a bungalow on Hailey Road, and then moved, via Ratendon Road and Jorbagh, to South Extension (1967-2004). It shifted to its present building, designed by Stephane Paumier, Rajesh Dongre and Anupam Bansal, at 72 Lodi Estate in 2004. Its Founder-President, Dr B.V.Keskar, was a Union Minister under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Ambassador of France at the time was Comte Ostrorog (1951-60). Dr France Bhattacharya was the first French Director (1960-62) and the first Indian teachers included Monisha Kapoor, Vasanthi Gupta, S. Somasundaram and Padma Natrajan.