In a bid to preserve the pre-Partition culture that nurtured two of India’s greatest film legends, Dilip Kumar and late Raj Kapoor, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government of Pakistan has approved the purchase of their ancestral homes so that they can be converted into museums.

Elated with the news, Kumar’s wife and veteran actor Saira Banu says, “It is an amazing idea to convert the houses into museums. Both these stars have been friends from Peshawar. The families have known each other for so many years. Their fans will be able to visit the museum and live through the ambiance of the houses where the two superstars grew up.”

Kapoor’s eldest son Randhir Kapoor is also happy with the development. “We’re honoured. I last went there during the shoot of Henna (1991) more than 30 years back. I appreciate this initiative that the government of Pakistan is trying to pursue and do for the two legends,” he says.

The discussion of the two houses to be turned into a museum has been going on for a decade. The objections of the current owners were rejected by Peshawar district commissioner. After fixing the price, he transferred the ownership of the two houses to the archaeological department.

While it is yet to be decided about the things that will be put up in the museum, Banu says that she wouldn’t mind giving out a few things. “I believe fans would like to see some of the things from his growing up days. Whatever he has put down in his autobiography, people would want to see that in real life,” she concludes.