The bungalows of Indian film stars
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The superstars of the 1950s and 1960s
Even the yaadein (memories)are being wiped out
Dilip Kumar’s Pali Hill bungalow to be razed
“Take a right/left turn from Dilip Kumar’s bungalow,” is a statement that travellers looking for directions on Pali Hill have heard innumerable times. No more, however. The landmark bungalow belonging to Hindi cinema’s greatest legend will soon be demolished, pushing up the rapidly rising tally of Bollywood bungalows that have vanished from Pali’s leafy environs.
Dilip Kumar’s wife Saira Banu, when contacted, insisted that maintenance work was going on, and that the thespian would let the press know if there was anything. However, the actor’s nephew, Ayub Khan, confirmed the demolition. “It’s really sad,” he said. “48, Pali Hill, was almost like a tourist attraction.”
Dilip Kumar bought the spacious ground-plus-one bungalow in the 1950s when he was at the height of his fame with films like Devdas, Madhumati and Naya Daur. In 1966, after he married actress Saira Bano, who lived down the lane, he moved into her house.
Photos: Prathamesh Bandekar
From The Times of India
However, his brothers, Aslam and Ehsaan Khan, continued to live in his bungalow, which has a huge garden and a badminton court where the thespian would play to keep himself fit. Lore has it that he visited the court especially before embarking on the shooting of Ramesh Sippy’s Shakti where he was cast in a pivotal role with Amitabh Bachchan, because he wanted to look as fit as Bachchan.
More and more bungalows of top 1960s film personalities are being razed and redeveloped into highrises. Rajendra Kumar’s bungalow ‘Dimple’ is one such (though the office portion and Dimple preview theatre remain untouched), Manoj Kumar’s another. Sahir Ludhianvi’s ‘Aashiyana’ was demolished last year.
The bungalow, where many of his immortal lyrics were created, was taken over by the society, as the poet had no heir. Reportedly, his life’s work, which included books, poems and film lyrics, were sold to the raddiwala once the society took possession.
The Kapoors’ Krishna Raj
Gulzar’s Boskyana
Imran Khan’s house
Photos: Prathamesh Bandekar
From The Times of India
Imperial Heights, a set of twin towers, has replaced Sunil Dutt’s bungalow ‘Yaadein’ which is only two blocks away from Dilip Kumar’s at Pali Hill.
Dutt redeveloped his bungalow at a time when he was out of movies and concentrating on his political career. His children occupy four flats in the building.
Film folks’ bungalows have been going under the bulldozer in locations outside Pali Hill as well. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s bungalow, ‘Anupama’ at Carter Road, was demolished about a decade ago and redeveloped by Kalpak Builders. The veteran director was given a flat in the new building and a large amount of money. Vinod Mehra, Pran and Pramod Chakraborty’s bungalows too have disappeared from the map of Mumbai.
Pali Hill: High-rises replace bungalows
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mamta
Photos: Prathamesh Bandekar
From The Times of India
Probably in the next few decades, people might not be aware that Nargis Dutt Road in the posh Pali Hill area in Mumbai, boasted of some landmark Bollywood addresses for a long time.Though a lot of filmi folk still live along this famous road, their mighty bungalows now soar skywards. It's been a while since Sunil Dutt's Ajanta gave way to the high-rise, Imperial Heights. Now there are only a few bungalows left in this golden realty zone.
After Ranbir Kapoor moved out of his family home, Krishna Raj, parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor too have shifted to another house on Hill Road. A few years ago, it was reported that their bungalow was going to be rebuilt. This impressive landmark will also disappear and get a new face soon.
Dilip Kumar's iconic bungalow, one of the first Hindi film celebrity addresses, was among the first to be redeveloped.However, the project reportedly got delayed due to disputes with the original plot owners. For many years, the thespian and his wife Saira Banu have been living in another bungalow across the road, a few metres away from Imperial Heights.
Like its legendary owner, Gulzar saab, who is always dressed in crisp whites, the sprawling bungalow Boskyana sits pretty in all its pristine glory, right next to Krishna Raj.The house is named after his daughter Bosky (Meghna). In October 2012, Gulzar got into a legal battle with a developer and a housing society to reclaim exclusive rights to Boskyana after they had fraudulently deprived him of 400 sq m land surrounding the bungalow.
Just like the old order giveth way to the new, Imran Khan's plush building is a new avatar of his grandfather, the late filmmaker Nasir Hussain's (known for super hits films like Teesri Manzil, Yaadon Ki Baaraat and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak) bungalow.
About 50 years after Nasir Hussain built it, Imran Khan redeveloped it into a fancy apartment. After two years of staying in a rented place, Imran and his family moved back to this address that has a solar energy system and a swimming pool, besides other modern amenities.
Last but not the least is filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's bungalow called Mamta. The exterior of his home looks simple, but the interiors are done tastefully and artistically, often reflecting the kind of cinema he makes.
Stars of the 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s
John Abraham
John Abraham's penthouse is our favourite Bollywood home out of the lot. Designed by his brother and father, this magnificent penthouse provides a perfect connect to nature with both, stunning views of the Arabian sea and beautiful landscaping, both inside and outside.
Amitabh Bachchan
The superstar of the millennium is said to have 5 houses in Mumbai itself. However, Jalsa is the mansion where the whole family resides.
Value: Rs 112 crores.
Ranbir Kapoor
Self-proclaimed mama's boy Ranbir Kapoor stays with his parents, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, at Krishna Raj. It has been in the Kapoor family for over three decades and [was] one of the few bungalows on Pali Hill that [hadn't] given way to a high-rise.
Aamir Khan
The actor moved into a rented sea-facing flat in Freeda Apartments, off Carter Road in Bandra, after his house in Pali Hill went under renovation. Months after moving into this Rs.10 lakh-a-month flat, the actor reportedly bought the property. Aah, the life of the rich and the famous!
Value: Rs 60 crores
Salman Khan
Also is Bandra, near SRK and Big B's homes, is Galaxy Apartments, the home of another Bollywood superstar, Salman Khan. Bhai often comes out on the verandah on the 1st floor to greet his fans who, every now and then, gather outside his house just to catch a glimpse of him. Although Salman is said to have purchased a house for a whopping 32 crores, and will soon be moving there.
Value: Rs 16 crores.
Shah Rukh Khan
Mannat
This mansion, appropriately called Mannat, is in Bandra, Mumbai, and has also been declared a heritage site which exempts it from ever being demolished.
Value: In excess of Rs. 200 crores.
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar's home-sweet-home resides in a sea-facing duplex flat in Prime Beach in Juhu. Like Aamir, this khiladi also likes to keep a low profile, away from the media, after he's done with his shoots.
See also
Dr. J. Jayalalithaa , for the most palatial of them all.
Katrina Kaif- Ranbir Kapoor: the relationship, for their Carter Road penthouse
