📌 Key Points
- Raj Kapoor’s ancestral home, Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar, damaged by rains and earthquake.
- The century-old Haveli was declared a national heritage site by Pakistan in 2016.
- Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj’s father, resided in the Haveli before moving to Bombay.
- Kapoor family members have visited the dilapidated Haveli, urging its restoration.
Kapoor Haveli, the ancestral home of Raj Kapoor in Peshawar, has suffered significant damage following heavy rains and a strong earthquake. A portion of the historic building, declared a national heritage site, has collapsed, raising concerns about its future.
Kapoor Haveli Suffers Damage
The historic Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar, which belonged to the late Raj Kapoor , has suffered serious damage after recent heavy rains followed by a strong earthquake on Friday night. PTI quoted officials and local residents saying a portion of the haveli collapsed overnight.
The century-old Kapoor Haveli is a significant cultural site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and was declared a national heritage site by the Pakistan government in 2016.
Given the building’s condition, Waheedullah urged the archaeology department and the provincial government to take immediate steps to restore and preserve the historic building. Local officials said that any further neglect could result in irreparable loss to the structure.
A Heritage Site in Peril
Before Partition, the haveli was home to Prithviraj Kapoor — the first member of the Kapoor clan to enter the film industry. Originally built by Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, Prithviraj’s father, it served as the Kapoor family home for the next 20 years. Raj Kapoor and his uncle, actor Trilok Kapoor, were both born here.
Raj Kapoor’s brothers Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor were born in India, as Prithviraj Kapoor had moved to Bombay in the 30s to pursue his fledgling acting career. Like many other families, the Kapoors also moved to India after the Partition, leaving behind the city and their home.
Kapoor Family’s Plea for Restoration
The estate has been in a state of disrepair for years despite calls for its conservation. While the house is now in an extremely delicate condition, its beauty still stands out.
The estate has seen visits from members of the Kapoor family over the years. Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor often visited and even lived there before the Partition. Raj Kapoor’s sons, actors Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor, had visited it in the 1990s, urging the Pakistan government to work on its restoration. The building has been abandoned since 1947.
The damage to Kapoor Haveli is a blow to cultural heritage. Urgent action is needed by the archaeology department and the government to restore and preserve this historic building before it’s lost forever, fulfilling the Kapoor family’s wishes.
