Peshawar, Pakistan — In a landmark cultural preservation initiative, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government in Pakistan has approved a budget of over ₹30 million (PKR 10.65 million) to restore and renovate the ancestral homes of Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, located in the historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar.
The two properties — known as the “Dilip Kumar House” and “Kapoor Haveli” — are symbols of shared history between India and Pakistan and have long been seen as cultural landmarks. Both actors, who later rose to become titans of Indian cinema, were born in Peshawar before their families migrated to India during the partition.
Officials from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in KP announced that the project will focus on structural stabilization, preservation of original architecture, and eventual conversion into heritage museums. These spaces will showcase memorabilia, photographs, and personal stories of the two cinema icons, aiming to attract both local and international tourists.
This initiative reflects a growing recognition in Pakistan of the importance of preserving shared Indo-Pak cultural heritage — especially figures like Dilip Kumar (born Yusuf Khan) and Raj Kapoor, whose films remain beloved across the subcontinent.
Previously, the government had declared these homes as national heritage sites under the Antiquity Act, but the project had seen delays due to ownership and funding issues. With this financial greenlight, restoration is expected to begin shortly.
As tensions often overshadow collaboration between India and Pakistan, this heritage revival is a poignant reminder of the people, art, and history that continue to bind the two nations at a cultural level — even decades after partition.
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