The historic home of legendary Bollywood actor-director Raj Kapoor was partially demolished by its owners for constructing a marketing plaza but timely action by the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities saved the building from total destruction.
The Archives Department on Saturday obtained stay from the local court to save the demolition of the historic “haveli” situated at Dhaki Munawar Shah area of the walled city.
However, the new owner by the time had pulled down the first storey of the building for construction of a commercial plaza on it. The doors and window panes on the second and third floors have also been removed.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government had earlier declared the houses of Peshawar-born Bollywood actors Kapoor and Dilip Kumar as heritage buildings to protect and preserve them.
The Archives officials said they sought police help to halt the razing of the house. They took into custody the labourers who were later freed.
Kapoor’s father Prithviraj Kapoor had constructed this house in 1920, where the Mera Naam Joker star and his siblings were born.
The Kapoor family later shifted to India after partition. During the previous Awami National Party Government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the house was declared National heritage but no cogent step was taken to preserve it.
Kapoor’s actor son, Rishi Kapoor took to Twitter to thank people of Pakistan resisting the demolition but said since the property belongs to the country, they don’t have a say in it.
“Thank you for your gesture but that property belongs to the Pakistan Government. And it is entirely up to them to decide,” Rishi wrote.
Born on December 14, 1924, Raj Kapoor began to act at the age of 10 years and became one of the best known actors, producers and directors, enjoying global audiences, particularly in Asia and Europe. He got the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contribution to Indian cinema.