Think Bollywood dynasties, and the Kapoors instantly steal the spotlight. From Prithviraj Kapoor to Ranbir Kapoor, this family has dominated the silver screen for generations. But what if we told you their legacy isn¡¯t just cinematic? Nestled in the bustling streets of Peshawar, Pakistan, stands Kapoor Haveli, a 100-year-old ancestral mansion that once echoed with the laughter of Bollywood¡¯s first family.
Built between 1918 and 1922 by Prithviraj Kapoor¡¯s father, this five-story marvel was no ordinary house¡ªit was the birthplace of Bollywood royalty. Raj Kapoor, the showman himself, took his first breath here, long before he ruled Indian cinema. With 40-50 rooms, this grand mansion was a symbol of affluence, but time and natural disasters took their toll, reducing it to just two standing floors.
Despite the damages, the Kapoor Haveli remains a cherished relic of the past, holding deep sentimental value for the Kapoors. Rishi Kapoor, in particular, was known to have an emotional attachment to his ancestral home. So much so that when he visited Peshawar in 1990 with his father Raj Kapoor and uncle Shashi Kapoor, he took mud from the courtyard¡ªhis own way of preserving a piece of history.
Imagine an entire city coming to a standstill just to catch a glimpse of their favorite Bollywood stars. That¡¯s exactly what happened in 1990 when Rishi and Shashi Kapoor made a rare visit to Peshawar. The duo was in Pakistan for a film shoot in Karachi but made it a point to return to their roots. According to those who witnessed the moment, it was nothing short of legendary¡ªcrowds swarmed the streets, eager to welcome the Bollywood titans back home.
Even beyond Peshawar, Rishi Kapoor maintained a complex but undeniable connection with Pakistan. While he often extended olive branches, like congratulating Imran Khan on his election, he also stirred controversy with his social media outbursts during Indo-Pak cricket matches. Regardless, his love for his ancestral land remained strong, and before his passing, he expressed a heartfelt wish¡ªto visit Peshawar again and show his children their roots.
The Kapoor family's long-standing dream was to turn their ancestral home into a museum, and in 2018, their wish was granted. Rishi Kapoor personally reached out to Pakistani authorities, requesting them to preserve Kapoor Haveli as a tribute to his family's legacy. The government, recognizing the cultural significance, approved the plan, ensuring that the haveli would stand as a monument to Bollywood¡¯s golden era.
For Bollywood fans and history lovers alike, Kapoor Haveli isn¡¯t just a building¡ªit¡¯s a portal to a bygone era, a testament to a family's cinematic reign, and a standing memory of the undying love between art and heritage.