May 22, 2024
Aashirwad: Rajesh Khanna’s Legendary Home – Aashirwad tells a story of success, love, heartbreak, and illness – Located opposite the Bandra promenade with an endless sea view – Witnessed the peak of Khanna’s stardom in the 1970s
The Early Owners: Bharat Bhushan and Rajendra Kumar – Bharat Bhushan, the first owner, sold it due to heavy losses – The bungalow was considered haunted and had no willing buyers – Rajendra Kumar bought it for Rs. 60,000, naming it “Dimple” after his daughter
Rajesh Khanna’s Purchase and Renaming – Khanna bought the bungalow from Rajendra Kumar for Rs. 3.5 lakh – Renamed it “Aashirwad” as Kumar had already named his new bungalow “Dimple” – Saw it as a promising investment to boost his Bollywood career
Aashirwad: A Witness to Stardom and Struggles – Khanna experienced a meteoric rise to fame after moving in – Significant events: marriage to Dimple Kapadia, birth of daughters Twinkle and Rinke – Khanna's decline led him to spend more time at his office than at Aashirwad
The Renaming and Legacy – Renamed “Vardaan Aashirwad” a year after Khanna's death – Name change was allegedly his last wish and a vastu requirement – Aashirwad remained synonymous with Rajesh Khanna
Controversies and Final Sale – Khanna wished to turn Aashirwad into a museum for his memorabilia – Legal dispute with Anita Advani after Khanna’s death – Sold for Rs 90 crore in 2014 to Shashi Kiran Shetty
– Aashirwad stands as a testament to Rajesh Khanna's legacy – Continues to be a symbol of Bollywood history and stardom – Twinkle and Rinke Khanna were the sole beneficiaries of the sale