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Let Pakistan govt demolish Kapoor Haveli: Rishi Kapoor

Haveli's owner had the building's top two storeys demolished but Directorate of Archaeology halted the destruction

News Desk January 17, 2016

Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor. PHOTO: FILE

Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has said his family does not have any emotional attachment with his grandfather's ancestral house in Peshawar Kapoor Haveli, and the Pakistani government can demolish it.

“We don’t have any emotional connect to that house since we haven’t seen it. Let the Pakistan government demolish it," he said on Sunday.

"I am not even sure if that was our grandfather's own house or rented because he didn’t enough have money then to own a house. So I don’t think anyone from the Kapoor family has any problem with that."

Thank you for your gesture but that property belongs to the Pakistani Govt.and it is entirely up to them to decide. https://t.co/kP79vcPnkT
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) January 16, 2016

Raj Kapoor’s Peshawar home falling apart

The owner of the Haveli on Saturday had the top two storeys of the building demolished overnight after it turned into a threat for neighbouring houses. However, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums stepped and halted the destruction of this iconic structure.

According to details written on the slab inside the Haveli, Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, father of Prithviraj Kapoor and grandfather of Raj Kapoor, constructed the building in 1918.

Raj Kapoor’s house: Archaeology dept comes to rescue after damage

“We came to India even before Partition, and never saw the house. I don’t know why others are having an issue, when we ourselves don’t have any problem with the demolition. We three brothers never stayed there. Why would we have a problem?” the actor added.

The Kapoor Haveli is one of the more imposing buildings in the old city, situated in Mohallah Dhaki Munawar Shah, inside the Asamai Gate and can be accessed through the narrow, winding streets of the historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

The article originally appeared in The Hindu

COMMENTS (14)

Dobbie | 8 years ago | Reply Something must have happened in past few years that he;s talking like this. They pay salaries to couple of people for maintaining Raj Kapoor House in Peshawar. No tehwaar in their family starts without the mati sent from there Pesahwar's house. Rishi and Shammi have visited the house couple of times. Go check youtube. I think incidents like honoring Dilip kumar with Nishan-e Haider and ignoring Raj Kapoor might have triggered these feelings of alienation. Couple of times their visas were also refused.

Syed Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply These buildings should have structure re-enforced if possible and saved, they have nothing to do with Kapoor, they are just pretty structures, he admits himself, they may have rented it, but the building is worthy of being saved, it does not belong to Kapoor, it belongs to our history. Repair it, make it stronger, beautify it and let it be a heritage site as they do in the US.

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Shetty | 8 years ago | Reply No offence ment..he is being blunt about his thoughts as always.I feel he did not ment to disrespect anyone.

bharat | 8 years ago | Reply @Ammar: You are wrong my friend.He respects Pakistanis just like you respect him. Please try to understand that this family has about 2000 crores of assets or even more in India. Thats why they are least concerned about a place where they didnt even live and its very old as such

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply Besides being home of legendary Prithvi Raj Kapoor, it is also an old structure and exhibits subcontinent's cultural and architectural history. So unless it becomes a life threat, Archaeology Department should take care of it at any cost. And for the record, despite his indifference for Pakistan and his property in Pakistan, he (Rishi) is admired, respected, and immensely loved by Pakistanis. So let this house be the symbol of our love for Kapoors and their contribution to theater of subcontinent...

HoshWagan | 8 years ago | Reply Preserve the picture of the house and demolish it. lives of the neighbors are more important.

Gul Khan | 8 years ago | Reply The house shall be preserved because it is an old structure having beautiful design Not because it once belonged to Kapoor family.

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply @Kolsat: I agree, even if they disagree. Why should we not preserve it? It makes no sense to me!

Shakil Ahmed Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Kapoors or not for Kapoors, This building should be restored as its a historic one. Dont demolish and build new concerte

Kolsat | 8 years ago | Reply @faisal: I agree. Whether the building belonged to a Bollywood actor or not such buildings will never be built ever again and Pakistan will lose an ancient structure so that future generations will know how people lived many yea rs ago.

faisal | 8 years ago | Reply All old structures should be preserved. Its a beautifully constructed house. We are losing all our old building and they are not even very old. I think we should preserve architecture, not for the kapoors but for ourselves.

Point | 8 years ago | Reply the lives of people living around that house is more important in current situation.

Neelam | 8 years ago | Reply Well, that's really honest of Mr. Rishi kapoor to admit that they don't even remember living in that house or having told about their grand parents buying the property. He further states that his grand father was not very wealthy and might have rented the property, and hence he has no issues with it being demolished.

NSJ | 8 years ago | Reply It is only Kapoors....not some big shot in the history. Are we going to protect each troupe's heritage? Let the house be demolished! If Kapoors are not interested or care about their own heritage then why is this a news? The owner should utilize the building in proper modern fashion.

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