'No demolition order issued for Dilip Kumar bungalow'

MUMBAI: The civic authorities on Monday denied having issued demolition orders for thespian Dilip Kumar's bungalow here.

"We are unaware of any order passed for demolishing Dilip Kumar's bungalow at Pali Hill. This is completely news to me," Deputy Chief Engineer, Building Proposal Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, VL Joshi said.

The civic body's reaction comes after reports claimed that the veteran actor's house was being razed.

"For any demolition, we need to get the proposal for the structure concerned. It first comes to the Executive Engineer level for processing. Then it comes to me for final approval. We have not received any such proposal till now," he said.

All attempts to contact Kumar and his actress-wife Saira Banu failed. However, a domestic help at the latter's home, Bashir, claimed the bungalow at 48, Pali Hill in suburban Bandra was not being demolished.

"Master's home is not being razed. It is undergoing renovation. These news reports that his bungalow was being demolished are based on false rumours. The house had become very old and needed attention," Bashir said.

The veteran actor bought the spacious ground-plus-one bungalow in the 1950s. In 1966, after he married Banu, who lived down the lane in 34, Pali Hill, he moved into her house.

However, his brothers, Aslam and Ehsaan Khan, continued to live in his bungalow, which has a huge garden and a badminton court.