Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor's Ancestral Homes in Pakistan to Become Museums
Historic residences in Peshawar to be renovated and opened as museums, preserving Bollywood legends’ legacies
- Publish date: Tuesday، 29 July 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor’s ancestral homes in Peshawar’s iconic Qissa Khwani Bazaar are set to be converted into heritage museums following the official start of restoration work.
Spearheaded by Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Archaeology Department, the project began recently with a ₹70 million budget and is slated for completion within two years.
Declared protected national heritage as early as 2014, these century‑old structures are deeply symbolic of early Bollywood roots. The project aims to restore both Dilip Kumar’s hometown and Kapoor Haveli—a sprawling historic mansion built between 1918 and 1922—to their former architectural glory.
Under the supervision of Dr Abdus Samad, Director of Archaeology, structural and aesthetic refurbishment has commenced across both sites. The initiative is expected to boost heritage tourism in the region while honoring the cinematic contributions of these legendary actors.
The objectives extend beyond restoration: the converted museums will tell stories of Dilip Kumar—born Yusuf Khan—and Raj Kapoor’s early lives in Peshawar and their iconic journeys in Indian cinema. Once complete, these museums are expected to attract global attention and help elevate cultural tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
With expected support from international partners like the World Bank, the project is framed as a landmark convergence of cultural preservation and economic opportunity. Officials emphasise the role of these sites in forging stronger cultural ties and boosting local development and tourism infrastructure.
This article was previously published on bahrainmoments. To see the original article, click here