The ancestral homes of two of the great Bollywood stars in Peshawar, a city in northern Pakistan, will be renovated and restored, announced the provincial archaeology department this month, reported BBC on Tuesday.
Pakistan to save Bollywood greats' ancestral homes in Peshawar https://t.co/j2UBJwoCct
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 28, 2020
The two houses belong to the families of legendary Bollywood actors – Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. The officials say the houses, currently private property, will be bought and will be turned into museums following an extensive restoration.
Kapoor passed away in 1988 meanwhile Kumar, 97, lives with his wife Saira Banu in Mumbai. Both the celebrities were born and raised in Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani bazaar. Another Bollywood actor, Shah Rukh Khan, also traces his roots in Peshawar.
KP authorities move to declare residences of Bollywood super stars @TheDilipKumar and Raj Kapoor in Peshawar as museums under the Peshawar Revival Plan. Legendary sportsman and squash champ Jehangir Khan should be honoured the same way
— Javed Aziz Khan (@JavedAzizKhan) September 28, 2020
“The move is part of efforts to restore Peshawar’s traditional culture which fell by the wayside due to the war on terror,” Director of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdus Samad told BBC Urdu.
The archaeological department is planning to conserve and turn the mansions into the museums that will be adorned with the memorabilia on the respective actors, including Shah Rukh Khan. There will also be a film library and other elements reflecting Peshawar’s Bollywood connection.
Read more: Pakistan aims to renovate Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar
The Kapoor Haveli was built between 1918 and 1922 by Raj Kapoor’s grandfather Deewan Basheswarnath. He was a police officer in British India. He originally hailed from modern-day Faisalabad but was posted in Peshawar. The family used to frequently visit the ancestral home in Peshawar before selling it off prior to the 1947 partition.