Latest news with #JubileeKumar
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did you know Rajesh Khanna once bought an alleged haunted house hoping to inherit Rajendra Kumar's luck?
Did you know that 's iconic sea-facing home Aashirwad was once considered haunted? Long before it became a symbol of superstardom, the bungalow was a crumbling, unwanted property—until two legendary actors turned it into a piece of Bollywood history. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Haunted House No One Wanted Back in the 1960s, Carter Road in Bandra wasn't the celebrity hotspot it is today—it was a quiet neighborhood, mostly home to Parsis and Anglo-Indians. Tucked along this sleepy stretch was a dilapidated old bungalow with a spooky reputation. Locals believed it was haunted, and no one dared buy it, even at a throwaway price. But rising star saw beyond the ghost stories. Eager to own a home by the sea, and undeterred by its eerie past, he took a leap of faith—despite being strapped for cash. Rajendra Kumar's Risk Pays Off As recounted in Seema Sonik Alimchand 's book Jubilee Kumar, the haunted bungalow was priced at Rs 65,000, but Rajendra Kumar had only Rs 10,000 at the time. Eager not to miss the opportunity, he immediately issued a cheque for the amount and handed it to the broker, even though he didn't have the remaining Rs 55,000. To raise the balance, he approached filmmaker BR Chopra, who had recently offered him two films—Dhool Ka Phool and Kanoon. Although Kumar had agreed to both roles, the payment terms were still being discussed, and he now hoped to finalize them to secure the funds. Rajendra Kumar set his sights on a house priced at Rs 65,000 but had only Rs 10,000 in hand. To arrange the remaining amount, he turned to filmmaker BR Chopra, who had recently offered him two film roles. Hoping to get an advance, Rajendra asked for Rs 2 lakh, but Chopra agreed to Rs 1.75 lakh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With the money secured, Rajendra went on to purchase the house. Rumours swirled that the house was haunted, but the broker assured Rajendra Kumar it was just a tale spread by a former tenant who hadn't paid rent. Unfazed, Rajendra renovated the bungalow and named it Dimple after his daughter. As his career soared, earning him the nickname 'Jubilee Kumar' for his string of hits, the house became a symbol of his success. Years later, Rajesh Khanna bought the same house, hoping it would bring him the same good fortune. Rajesh Khanna's Aashirwad Era Rajesh Khanna purchased the bungalow for Rs 3.5 lakh but was advised to change its name from Dimple to Aashirwad. According to Seema Sonik Alimchand's book Jubilee Kumar, Rajendra Kumar gently requested the change, explaining that the bungalow had been named after his daughter and that their new home also carried the same name. He warmly added his blessings, wishing Rajesh immense luck and prosperity in his new home. Seema Sonik Alimchand's book recounts Rajendra Kumar's reflections on the iconic bungalow, but it was Rajesh Khanna who truly turned Aashirwad into a symbol of stardom. After moving in, he rose to become Hindi cinema's first superstar, with crowds of fans regularly gathering outside his home. As Gautam Chintamani notes in Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, the move to Aashirwad cemented Rajesh's superstar status. Following his death in 2012, the legendary sea-facing bungalow was sold to a businessman for a staggering Rs 90 crore.
News18
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rajesh Khanna Bought A Rumoured 'Haunted House' Hoping For Rajendra Kumar's Luck
Last Updated: Rajesh Khanna died in 2012. After that, his house Aashirwad was sold for Rs 90 crore to a businessman. Back in the 1960s, Carter Road in Bandra was a quiet stretch, mostly home to Parsis and Anglo-Indians—not the star-studded spot it is today. Among the houses stood an old, rundown bungalow that everyone believed was haunted. No one wanted to buy it, even at a very low price. But when actor Rajendra Kumar, still new to the film industry, heard about it, he saw a rare chance. Despite having no money, he was eager to own a seaside home and wasn't scared off by the ghost stories. As told in Seema Sonik Alimchand's book Jubilee Kumar, the house cost Rs 65,000, but Rajendra Kumar only had Rs 10,000. He wrote a cheque for that amount and gave it to the broker. He said, 'I immediately signed a cheque for Rs 10,000 and sent it to the broker. Now I had to pay fifty-five thousand more, which I didn't have in my account. So I went to Mr BR Chopra, who, a few days earlier, had offered me two films — Dhool ka Phool and Kanoon. While I had accepted both, we had yet to come to an agreement over the payment for each film." Rajendra Kumar wanted to buy a house that cost Rs 65,000, but he only had Rs 10,000. He asked B.R. Chopra, who gave him two movie roles, to pay some money early. Rajendra asked for Rs 2 lakh, but Chopra offered Rs 1.75 lakh. He later bought the house. Rumours said the house was haunted, but the broker told Rajendra Kumar it wasn't true. The old tenant hadn't paid rent and made up stories. Rajendra fixed the house and named it Dimple after his daughter. His career grew, and he got the nickname 'Jubilee Kumar.' Later, actor Rajesh Khanna bought the house, hoping to share Rajendra's luck. Rajesh Khanna bought the bungalow for Rs 3.5 lakh but had to change its name from 'Dimple' to 'Aashirwad.' Rajendra Kumar told him, as per Alimchand's book, 'You must change the name. Dimple is my daughter's name. We had named the Carter Road bungalow after her and we have now named our new home 'Dimple' too. But you have my blessings for your new home. May it bring you immense luck and prosperity." Alimchand's book shares Rajendra Kumar's words. After buying Aashirwad, Rajesh became the first big star of Hindi movies. Many fans gathered outside his home. In the book Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, Gautam Chintamani says that moving into Aashirwad made Rajesh's superstar image complete. Rajesh Khanna died in 2012. After that, his house Aashirwad was sold for Rs 90 crore to a businessman. First Published:
