The bungalows of Indian film stars
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Bungalows: Filmistân stars
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.
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.
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.
