Showing posts with label Anita Advani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anita Advani. Show all posts
Meet the billionaire who bought Rajesh Khanna's bungalow
7:50 AM
For the first time, Shashi Shetty reveals how he snagged the Rs 85 crore deal to buy Bollywood's iconic superstar's house and the plans for his new home
Aditi Saxena (BOMBAY TIMES; September 5, 2014)
A change of guard has taken
place at an iconic Carter Road bungalow, one which housed Hindi
cinema's first superstar.
Walk into the late Rajesh Khanna's home Vardan Aashirwad (in 2012, the bungalow was renamed from Aashirwaad) and you notice that the security guards are from a B2B logistics company. That's because the bungalow has changed hands after 44 years, to a brand new owner logistics company founder, Shashi Kiran Shetty.
The deal was signed on August 28 for Rs 85 crore between Shetty and Khanna's legal heirs, his daughters Twinkle (married to actor Akshay Kumar) and Rinkie (married to London-based investment banker Samir Saran). As we get a first look at the iconic bungalow, furniture is still being moved out, including a large, wrapped Krishna painting. “I told the family they can take whatever they want from the house, except one painting of Mr Khanna by Prithvi Soni. I want to keep that,“ says Shetty . Khanna had bought Aashirwaad for Rs 3.5 lakh in 1970 from fellow actor Rajendra Kumar.
SEA-FACING BUNGALOW
Shetty is excited over the legacy of his new home, yet buying this property in Bandra wasn't his first choice. “I was keen to move to South Bombay. But I have been living in Bandra since 1998 and my family didn't want to leave,“ says Shetty , as he sits on a creamcoloured armchair in the living room.“This is where Rinkie sat after we signed the deal on August 28. It used to be Khanna's seat.“
Mangalore-born Shetty moved to Mumbai in 1978 (Kaka was already Bollywood's reigning superstar by then) and founded the Rs 4,300-crore company in 1993. His heart set on owning a seafacing bungalow, Shetty began his search this year at Worli. “This property was not on the market. It was being managed privately. In May, I took a look around. It was amazing because of the location and the legendary people who lived here.“
LEGAL WRANGLE
Since Khanna's death two years ago, there was the problem of his alleged live-in companion Anita Advani staking a claim on the bungalow. The legal battle between Advani and Khanna's daughters is still on. “I wanted to be sure that there were no encumbrances from her. I don't know what right she has over his inheritance, nor do I want to know,“ says Shetty.
Backed by a private wealth management firm, Shetty met Akshay Kumar and his family at their Juhu residence for two hours, just before Shetty left for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “We spoke about the property only for 10 minutes. I proposed to buy it, he made his offer. I made a counter offer and we decided to close the deal somewhere in between.“
No advance changed hands and the deal was sealed with a handshake.
VAASTU COMPLIANT
Though he was sold on the location, Shetty did consult with his family and friends, including Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar's colleague and buddy. A Vaastu consultant also gave the nod, given that Khanna rose to great heights, but also suffered a sharp downfall in that house. “You can't blame a property for ups and downs in anyone's life. The bungalow has enough sunlight coming in and the view is breathtaking.“
Vardan Aashirwad's new owner admits he isn't a Bollywood addict or a Rajesh Khanna fan. But Shetty recalls watching Khanna's famous hits like Haathi Mere Saathi, Aradhana, Kati Patang and Anand. The bungalow is not in the best shape today and Shetty reveals he may demolish it and build his home from scratch. “Even if we live here, there will be a lot of work done.“
And will the name Vardan Aashirwad stay? “It makes sense to keep it, doesn't it?“ says he.
Walk into the late Rajesh Khanna's home Vardan Aashirwad (in 2012, the bungalow was renamed from Aashirwaad) and you notice that the security guards are from a B2B logistics company. That's because the bungalow has changed hands after 44 years, to a brand new owner logistics company founder, Shashi Kiran Shetty.
The deal was signed on August 28 for Rs 85 crore between Shetty and Khanna's legal heirs, his daughters Twinkle (married to actor Akshay Kumar) and Rinkie (married to London-based investment banker Samir Saran). As we get a first look at the iconic bungalow, furniture is still being moved out, including a large, wrapped Krishna painting. “I told the family they can take whatever they want from the house, except one painting of Mr Khanna by Prithvi Soni. I want to keep that,“ says Shetty . Khanna had bought Aashirwaad for Rs 3.5 lakh in 1970 from fellow actor Rajendra Kumar.
SEA-FACING BUNGALOW
Shetty is excited over the legacy of his new home, yet buying this property in Bandra wasn't his first choice. “I was keen to move to South Bombay. But I have been living in Bandra since 1998 and my family didn't want to leave,“ says Shetty , as he sits on a creamcoloured armchair in the living room.“This is where Rinkie sat after we signed the deal on August 28. It used to be Khanna's seat.“
Mangalore-born Shetty moved to Mumbai in 1978 (Kaka was already Bollywood's reigning superstar by then) and founded the Rs 4,300-crore company in 1993. His heart set on owning a seafacing bungalow, Shetty began his search this year at Worli. “This property was not on the market. It was being managed privately. In May, I took a look around. It was amazing because of the location and the legendary people who lived here.“
LEGAL WRANGLE
Since Khanna's death two years ago, there was the problem of his alleged live-in companion Anita Advani staking a claim on the bungalow. The legal battle between Advani and Khanna's daughters is still on. “I wanted to be sure that there were no encumbrances from her. I don't know what right she has over his inheritance, nor do I want to know,“ says Shetty.
Backed by a private wealth management firm, Shetty met Akshay Kumar and his family at their Juhu residence for two hours, just before Shetty left for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “We spoke about the property only for 10 minutes. I proposed to buy it, he made his offer. I made a counter offer and we decided to close the deal somewhere in between.“
No advance changed hands and the deal was sealed with a handshake.
VAASTU COMPLIANT
Though he was sold on the location, Shetty did consult with his family and friends, including Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar's colleague and buddy. A Vaastu consultant also gave the nod, given that Khanna rose to great heights, but also suffered a sharp downfall in that house. “You can't blame a property for ups and downs in anyone's life. The bungalow has enough sunlight coming in and the view is breathtaking.“
Vardan Aashirwad's new owner admits he isn't a Bollywood addict or a Rajesh Khanna fan. But Shetty recalls watching Khanna's famous hits like Haathi Mere Saathi, Aradhana, Kati Patang and Anand. The bungalow is not in the best shape today and Shetty reveals he may demolish it and build his home from scratch. “Even if we live here, there will be a lot of work done.“
And will the name Vardan Aashirwad stay? “It makes sense to keep it, doesn't it?“ says he.
Twinkle Khanna gets court relief; Anita Advani won't get Rajesh Khanna's will copy
2:42 PM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; August 5, 2014)
Rajesh Khanna’s daughter, Twinkle Khanna, has a reason to smile. The actress-turned-interior designer can heave a sigh of relief now that her appeal, that challenges an order favouring Anita Advani, has been admitted in the Bombay High Court. On Monday, the Bombay HC allowed her to file an appeal that contests Advani’s demand to get a copy of the probate proceedings of Rajesh Khanna’s will. The court also stayed its previous order that permitted Anita Advani to get a copy of the will.
Sources say that Twinkle’s lawyer argued that even if the will was to be revoked, Anita Advani has no locus standi to do so. It may be recalled here that Anita Advani, who claims to be Rajesh Khanna’s live-in partner in his last years, has asked that she be given a copy of the probate proceedings of the will; she plans to revoke the same alleging that it has been forged.
When contacted, Advani said that she is not going to give up on her fight. Anita Advani’s lawyer Manohar Shetty says, “We are going to challenge the order and file a petition for revocation of the probate of Rajesh Khanna’s will.” Twinkle was not available for comment.
Rajesh Khanna's 'haunted' bungalow sold for Rs 95 cr?
9:00 AM
Varun Singh (MID-DAY; July 25, 2014)
The home where Hindi cinema’s first superstar lived has been sold, but for a price that doesn’t quite match up to the glamour of its swank locale or its elite owner. Vardan Aashirwad, the iconic Carter Road bungalow where Rajesh Khanna spent his last days two years ago, has been sold for somewhere between Rs 90-95 crore, sources claim.
They say the sum is lighter than one would have expected because of the relatively small plot size of the property, and, more uncannily, the recent reports that the house is haunted. Real estate sources from Bandra said the deal was shrouded in secrecy, with both parties tightlipped about it.
The buyer has been identified as a businessman named Shashi Shetty. “What we have heard is that the property has gone for a mere Rs 95 crore because of its reputation as haunted, and also because the area of the plot is too small to construct a high-rise. We have heard that Shetty has bought it. We are trying to get further details. People associated with the deal are very secretive,” our source revealed.
The property admeasures 603 square metres, and is the first plot at the upscale Carter Road, now known as Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Road. Music director Naushad was one of the locality’s inhabitants. The bungalow was earlier known simply as Aashirwad, and before that as Dimple — a name its previous owner, actor Rajendra Kumar, had given it. Khanna apparently wanted to retain the name, but this was not agreeable to Kumar, who had constructed another bungalow in Pali Hill and given it the same name. The bungalow, which Khanna bought for Rs 3.5 lakh, was renamed Vardan Aashirwad.
After Khanna’s death on July 18, 2012, the property was automatically transferred to his daughters Twinkle and Rinke Khanna. However, Rajesh Khanna’s live-in partner, Anita Advani, has been claiming her share in the property for some time now. A public notice was issued in this regard, which shows both Twinkle and Rinke as owners, and lawyers for the new owner have called for any objections regarding the title of the plot.
Advani said, “The property is still under litigation and I will be challenging the public notice that has been published in the newspaper today. I have asked for a stake in the property and the case is pending in court.
A broker clued in about the deal said, “The deal took place 15 days ago. Last Friday was Khanna’s second death anniversary and the plot was sold just before that. It’s too small to be developed into a high- rise and, hence, whoever has bought it must have taken it for end use and not to redevelop the property.” When we sent a detailed query mentioning the purported amount to Twinkle Khanna, her actor- husband Akshay Kumar and their manager Zenobia, the latter refused to revert to the query. Akshay and Twinkle also didn’t respond to our messages.
There were talks that the daughters wanted to make a museum in their mega- starfather’s memory, but it seems the plan has been scrapped.
— Inputs by Bharati Dubey
LAST APPEARANCE
Amid reports of his ill health, the superstar waved to his fans from Aashirwad’s balcony on June 21, 2012. He was flanked by estranged wife Dimple Kapadia and son- in- law Akshay Kumar. He died less than a month later.
Flip of fortune
The house had proven unlucky for Rajendra “Jubilee” Kumar, but not for Rajesh Khanna, who delivered 15 hits in a row
I won’t talk about Anita Advani-Dimple Kapadia
7:44 AM
Although tight-lipped about her late husband Rajesh Khanna's alleged girlfriend, Dimple Kapadia opens up about subjects close to her heart
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2013)
Seventeen months after Rajesh Khanna passed away, Dimple Kapadia has opened up about her husband. And despite being frequently traumatised in the recent past by a certain Anita Advani, who has laid claim to the late actor’s property, she declares, “I won’t talk about Anita Advani.”
However, she is all praise for her late husband, whom she fondly addressed as Kakaji. Dimple says, “He was the greatest actor alive. At least to me, he was. I fell in love with a superstar who was unique. Everything he did was so different, including his gestures and expressions. Importantly, he was good with his fans. Just the other day, I was on a flight when a guy came up to me and said: 'Dimpleji, I was a big fan of your husband.'"
Quite a far cry from their ugly break-up which led to her moving out of their family home in Bandra, Aashirwad, with her two young daughters, Tina (Twinkle) and Rinke, after 11 years of marriage.
Of late Dimple, otherwise a Juhu resident, has been spending a lot of time in Aashirwad. “I am shuttling between both my homes. But it’s not a big deal. The houses are well-maintained and also not too far from each other,” she says.
But, why do we see so little of her on the big screen? “I have done fewer films than I should have,” she admits adding: “No regrets. I wanted to be at home. I like a slower pace of life.”
Later this month, Dimple will be seen in a full-fledged role in Gurmmeet Singh’s What The Fish and she is on a rare promotional spree. The actress explains: “I have realised that it has become essential to promote your film. God forbid, if a film doesn’t run, I shouldn’t be blamed for that.”
Her character, Sudha Mishra, is a loner. Her entire life revolves around her fish and money plant. She isn’t happy with her son’s relationship with a foreigner but doesn't express her displeasure.
Sudha is the antithesis of Dimple, who is happy babysitting the two new additions to the family-- her elder daughter Tina has a baby daughter, the one-year-old Nitara, and younger daughter Rinke is mother to a baby boy born two months ago.
“The other day, I was telling Aarav (Akshay and Tina’s elder son) that I had been asked to walk the ramp. Aarav wondered: 'Naani, isn’t it true that only skinny women do the catwalk?' When I told him the money was good, he urged me to go ahead," she laughs.
Coming back to Rajesh Khanna, Dimple says, “Our family was always together. Whenever Kakaji needed something or wanted to discuss some issue, he would always bring it up with us. Certain things happened that brought us closer.”
Post What The Fish Dimple will be seen in Homi Adjania’s Finding Fanny Fernandes. Dimple says, “Working with Homi is a big challenge. I loved doing Being Cyrus and Cocktail with him. I was mesmerised by Deepika while shooting for Finding Fanny.... I couldn’t take my eyes off her, she is stunning.”
Try broaching the subject of Anita Advani, who is looking for an out of court settlement, she says dismissively, “Did I speak about it when Kakaji was alive? Did I speak when he was in hospital? Did anyone ever spot me in the hospital? That’s how discretely I have always conducted myself. That’s how it shall remain,” she concludes.
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