Amitabh's 'Prateeksha' bungalow became the gateway to stardom just by touching the soil of the courtesan's doorstep!

By Bollyy 12 Oct 2023 in Latest Trending

New Update

It is said that the completeness of a religious ritual is considered complete when the soil of a courtesan's residential place is made to touch it. It may be just hearsay, but the soil of a courtesan's residence definitely touched the foundation of Amitabh Bachchan's first bungalow 'Prateeksha', that is why Amitabh Bachchan's first bungalow 'Prateeksha' became the gateway to Stardom. Event organizer H. Khan, a friend of the late actor Sujit Kumar, narrates the story of Sujit Kumar to us about the construction of Prateeksha Bungalow, which is a curious memoir for us. You also listen -

Amitabh Bachchan's Prateeksha: Historical Insights

Where Amitabh Bachchan's famous bungalow Prateeksha stands today, a courtesan once lived there. There was a cottage there in which she lived on rent. This cottage was like Prithvi Kutir, Janaki Kutir, etc. in the Juhu area. Its owner used to be a Patel sahib who had given his cottage to a courtesan to live in and he would sometimes travel from Gujarat to Bombay on Saturday-Sunday for two days to spend holidays. Sujit Kumar's bungalow was adjacent to this cottage. Sujit Kumar was a star then. He used to appear as the second hero in his films along with Rajesh Khanna. He was also a solo star in Bhojpuri films. When Sujit Kumar used to pass through this cottage in his car, she used to smile at him. Sujit liked her smile and he would give a small smile and move ahead.

Amitabh-Bachchans-bungalow-Pratiksha

Amitabh Bachchan's Journey from 'Zanjeer' to Prateeksha

One day that courtesan stopped Sujit Kumar and said – I am going to leave from here. Patel is selling his cottage, why don't you buy it? Sujit Kumar was not interested in the cottage but he did not like to hear that she would go. In those days, Sujit Kumar was becoming a friend of Amitabh Bachchan. The proximity of Allahabad-Banaras used to be a topic of discussion between them. Amitabh and Jaya Bhaduri were friends and lived together in a rented flat near Caesar's Palace in Khar West. Sujit Kumar told Amitabh - Why don't you take 'that cottage' next to my house? Is giving for 60 thousand. "Where is the money, friend?" was Amitabh's reply. In those days, Amitabh and Jaya were working in 'Zanjeer'. Sujeet said - Ask Jaya, she will have some, you do some, and I will also do a little. Then you can give it back to me. And, Amitabh bought that cottage by collecting money together. Then Babuji (Harivansh Rai Bachchan) came from Delhi to Bombay and built a "Prateeksha" bungalow on the residential land of the courtesan. All the paths to Amitabh's stardom lay in this bungalow. Started joining!

-Sharad Rai

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