Rajesh Khanna Once Lashed Out at Salman Khan Over ‘Ashirwad’ Bungalow Offer
In Bollywood, the homes of celebrities often hold as much fame as the stars themselves. From Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments to Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat and Amitabh Bachchan’s Jalsa, these iconic residences have become landmarks in Mumbai’s celebrity culture. Among them once stood another iconic house — Ashirwad, the luxurious seaside bungalow of India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna.
Ashirwad Bunglow
Known as a temple for his fans, Ashirwad on Carter Road was a symbol of Rajesh Khanna’s unmatched stardom during the 1970s. Devotees would gather outside the house for hours just to catch a glimpse of the actor who redefined romance in Hindi cinema. However, after his passing, the bungalow became less of a shrine and more of a subject of legal and financial battles. The same house that symbolized superstardom eventually became the center of controversy and emotional turmoil.
The Rise and Decline of a Superstar
According to film writer Chintamani in his book, Rajesh Khanna’s fall from stardom was almost as dramatic as his meteoric rise. After dominating the box office in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Khanna’s popularity began to wane with the release of Zanjeer (1973), which introduced Amitabh Bachchan as the new “Angry Young Man” of Hindi cinema. With hits like Deewar and Sholay, Bachchan soon replaced Khanna as the face of Indian film heroes, marking a turning point in Bollywood history.
Khanna, despite multiple attempts, could never truly reclaim his earlier glory or financial success. By the 1980s, his fame had faded and financial pressures had begun to mount.
Salman Khan’s Offer and Rajesh Khanna’s Reaction
The book further reveals that at one point, Ashirwad was on the verge of being sold. Rajesh Khanna had reportedly received a notice from the Income Tax Department demanding payment of dues exceeding ₹1.5 crore. Around this time, Salman Khan and his brother Sohail Khan, through filmmaker Rumi Jaffery, expressed interest in purchasing the bungalow.
Salman, known for his affection towards industry veterans, even offered to work free of cost in Rajesh Khanna’s production house as a gesture of respect and goodwill. However, when Rumi Jaffery conveyed this to Rajesh Khanna, the veteran star took it personally. Deeply hurt, he reportedly lashed out, saying, “I considered you like my family, and now you want to bring me to the streets?”
This emotional response highlighted Khanna’s deep attachment to Ashirwad. To him, the offer represented not help, but humiliation — a blow to his pride as a once-revered superstar. He even scolded Sohail Khan when they later met in person, expressing his disappointment in strong words.
The Legacy of Ashirwad
Though Ashirwad eventually changed hands after Rajesh Khanna’s death in 2012, it remains a part of Bollywood’s golden era. The bungalow, once synonymous with glamour, fame, and fan devotion, continues to evoke nostalgia among film lovers who remember the man once called “Kaka” — the superstar who lived and breathed cinema.
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