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In September 1953, Dilip Kumar bought Bungalow No. 16 in Pali Hill, Bandra, from Abdul Latif for Rs 1.4 lakhs according to the Hindustan Times. Media reports state that after marrying Saira Banu in 1966, he left the bungalow and shifted to her nearby residence, while his brothers continued living at the property. Rajendra Kumar, then establishing himself as a major leading man, set his heart on one such bungalow priced at Rs 65,000. He managed only Rs 10,000 initially and turned to filmmaker B.R. In 1969 Rajesh Khanna bought the same property from him for Rs 3.5 lakh and renamed it Aashirwad. He sold his Pali Hill bungalow to Jeetendra for Rs 4.25 lakh. The deal included a plot of about 3,450 square feet. Years later, when the structure was demolished for redevelopment, the Burma teak wood alone fetched him Rs 11.5 lakh, more than two-and-a-half times what he had paid for the entire property. In the 1970s, screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar purchased a 4,000-square-foot bungalow at Bandra Bandstand for Rs 5 lakh, paid from his savings.
Chopra, who had offered him roles in two films; Dhool Ka Phool and Kanoon, as revealed by Rajendra Kumar himself in Seema Sonik Alimchand’s biography Jubilee Kumar: The Life and Times of a Superstar reported by the Indian Express. In an interview with Mid-Day as mentioned by Indian Express, Javed Akhtar revealed, around the same period, legendary poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi received land in Juhu from B.R. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Mumbai was still Bombay, and large parts of what are now the city’s most expensive neighbourhoods were quiet suburbs with open plots, sea views and bungalows that film stars could actually buy. Stars who had just begun earning steady money from hits often put their savings into these homes. Looking back at the prices they paid is a reminder of how dramatically the city has changed. In the early 1960s, Carter Road in Bandra was a quieter stretch lined with modest sea-facing houses. Chopra advanced him the remaining money as part of the fee arrangement, allowing Kumar to complete the purchase. The house later became known as Dimple, after his daughter. The bungalow went on to become one of Bollywood’s most recognisable addresses. Bharat Bhushan, a big star of the 1950s known for films such as Baiju Bawra, later faced severe financial difficulties. Later in an interview with the Reality Drive, Jeetendra has recalled that until then his family of eight had lived in a small chawl room in Girgaum. The bungalow represented a major step up. The land is now estimated to be worth several hundred crores. It was not only actors who could buy. He has spoken about how land and houses in these areas were still accessible then. Chopra against song fees for a film, and later had a building constructed on it.
Pali Hill, Carter Road, Turner Road and parts of Juhu were not the exclusive addresses they are today. These stories show that successful writers of the era could also secure solid addresses without today’s astronomical sums.
At the time Bandra was still considered somewhat distant from the main city, and such a sum, while significant, was within reach for a rising star who had already delivered major hits. He lived there for years before later moving to another bungalow in the same locality. These transactions belong to a different Mumbai. Land was available, suburbs were still growing, and a successful film or two could translate into a family home with a garden and sea breeze. The same plots and streets now change hands for tens or hundreds of crores. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
The stories of Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Jeetendra and Javed Akhtar simply record what was once possible before the city became unaffordable for almost everyone. Today the same land commands valuations in the hundreds of crores.