Rajesh Khanna's bungalow gets ready for new owners

Vardan Aashirwad, the iconic Carter Road bungalow belonging to late superstar Rajesh Khanna has finally changed hands. Its new owner, businessman Shashi Shetty, completed the paperwork for the deal yesterday. The deal is worth Rs 90 crore approximately.

Vardan Aashirwad on Carter Road, Bandra. File pic

mid-day had reported on July 25 that the 603-square metre bungalow was going to be sold to Shetty, who is the chairman and managing director of Allcargo Logistics Ltd, a logistics company founded by Shetty.

Shashi Shetty, chairman and MD of Allcargo Logistics, is the new owner of Vardan Aashirwad. PIc/Getty Images

The businessman confirmed that the deal was signed yesterday, but refused to comment on the amount. "I don't want to comment on the amount. We haven't decided when to move in to the bungalow also," he told mid-day.

Iconic house
According to sources, Khanna's daughters Twinkle and Rinke, and their mother, actress Dimple Khanna, were present for the procedure. Shetty was there with his wife.

The actor's business partner, Prakash Rohra, said, "We do feel sad to some extent. But ultimately, Kakaji's children are the rightful owners and they have the right to sell the property." The bungalow is in the process of being vacated.

Khanna lived at Saraswati Bhawan, Thakurdwar, till the release of his film Aashirwad. He bought this bungalow for Rs 3.5 lakh in 1970 from actor Rajendra Kumar. The home was named Dimple, and Khanna wanted to retain the name. However, Kumar, who had built another bungalow on Pali Hill of the same name, refused to part with the name.

"The name Aashirwad was suggested by Kakaji's father, who told him that whenever anyone reads the name of your bungalow, you will automatically get their blessing," added Rohra. Coincidentally, the bungalow had proven to be unlucky for Rajendra Kumar, but Khanna delivered 15 straight hits in a row.

Rs 3.5L
Amount for which Rajesh Khanna had bought Vardan Aashirwad

- Inputs by Varun Singh