Just next to it was a two storeyed decrepit and dilapidated bungalow, which nobody wanted as it was claimed to be haunted. Rajendra Kumar, then a new comer learnt about it from a friend.

He wanted to buy it but didn’t have enough money. So he went to the filmmaker B R Chopra and said he was willing to do Kanoon (India’s first songless film) but also two other films if he were paid in advance.

Chopra paid him Rs 90,000 in cash and Rajendra bought the house for Rs.60,000.

Rajendra renovated the bungalow and named it Dimple, after his daughter. It was during the time Rajendra lived in Dimple that he saw the kind of success very few stars had seen.

Since every film he starred in was at least a jubilee he earned the moniker ‘Jubilee Kumar’. He grew richer and built another bungalow at Pali Hill, which he again named Dimple.

It was at the same time that a newcomer called Rajesh Khanna was taking his first big steps as a star. He realised Rajendra was looking for a buyer for his Carter Road bungalow and felt it would be a good investment.

His even believed that Rajendra’s success would rub on to him if he shifted there. Rajendra sold the house to Khanna for Rs 31/2 lakh.

Rajesh wanted to retain the name Dimple for the bungalow, but Rajendra refused because he had already named his Pali Hill bungalow by the same name. So Rajesh renamed it as Aashirwad.

After Khanna’s death, the property, evaluated at Rs 225cr, is at the centre of Khanna’s estranged wife, Dimple Kapadia and daughters vs Khanna’s girlfriend of last eight years. Posted in (less)