Raj Kapoor’s Peshawar home falling apart

Last week’s earthquake caused massive fractures in the Kapoor Haveli


Photographs show the huge cracks that appeared in the ancestral home of Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. PHOTOS: HIDAYAT KHAN/EXPRESS

PESHAWAR:


After last week’s 7.5-magnitude earthquake, massive cracks have appeared in the ancestral home of Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor in Peshawar. Locals now fear that the house could collapse at any moment unless authorities step in.


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. It is surrounded by a number of almost century old houses with arched wooden windows and gates of the house, etched with beautiful floral and geometric designs – which has all but vanished from the city.

Historical sites: Raj Kapoor’s haveli awaits govt’s attention

When the earthquake struck on October 26, it killed around 271 people and injured over 2,000 others. It also caused large, deep fractures to appear in the building’s facade.

Neighbours now warn that the building is unsafe and close to collapse.

“Huge cracks have developed on every side of the building and we fear it can fall on our heads at any time,” says Badshah Khan, who works in a shop that is part of the haveli.

Dilip Kumar’s house protected heritage, says govt

He adds that the building could draw a large number of visitors due to its association with the Indian actor, but only if the government protects it.

Asked about any efforts to restore the building, an official of the K-P archaeological directorate told The Express Tribune that, “It is the owner who should report any damage to the authorities in the directorate.”

Raj Kapoor, dubbed as ‘The Showman’, was born in the haveli on December 14, 1929. Son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj was a contemporary of Dilip Kumar and one of the greatest actors and directors of his time.

Dilip Kumar’s house case: Culture director, secretary’s salaries attached

A controversy on the ownership of the building notwithstanding, the provincial government has failed to adequately care for the Kapoor haveli and houses of other famous cinema actors.

Houses of actors such as Shah Wali Qatal, Dilip Kumar, Shahrukh Khan and Raj Kapoor had initially been given under the care of directorate of culture. But the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government soon realised that it was a mistake and authorised the directorate of archaeology and museum to care for the houses.

Though, so far only the house of Yousuf Khan, also known as Dilip Kumar, has been declared a protected site.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.

COMMENTS (19)

Mamu | 8 years ago | Reply @Del Huss: We do not destroy our past. We have kept every single record since Fourteen Hundred Years ago. Yes, that is our history, that is our culture, that is our Heritage and that is our future. This house represents an Actor who was famous in India. What has that got to do with Pakistanis?
syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Karachiwala The point is about a house in Peshawar. From where you brought Saudi Arabai. I think you are confused the matter with Yemen:
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