Peshawar seeks revival of Dilip Kumar’s ancestral home as heritage landmark
AMRITSAR: With the ancestral home of legendary actor Dilip Kumar in Peshawar in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan reportedly reduced to a fragile remnant of its past, the Saragarhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has urged the KPK government to immediately undertake its restoration and preserve the birthplace of one of the subcontinent’s most celebrated cinematic icons.Sunny Singh, president of the committee, visited the historic house in Mohalla Khudadad near Qissa Khwani Bazaar and expressed concern over its deteriorating condition. The century-old house, where Dilip Kumar was born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11, 1922, has long been regarded as an important link to the actor’s early life and Peshawar’s cultural history.“I had the opportunity to visit the historic ancestral home of the legendary subcontinental actor Dilip Kumar in Peshawar. Standing at this historic site and feeling the moments of the past was a unique and memorable experience,” he said.He said Dilip Kumar was not merely a towering name in the film industry but also a source of pride for Peshawar, making his ancestral home an important part of the region’s shared cultural heritage.Singh said a large number of Dilip Kumar’s admirers continue to visit the property but return disappointed after seeing its condition. He said following his visit, he held discussions with members of the gurdwara management and local social activists and decided to approach the KPK chief minister for immediate restoration of the ancestral house of Dilip Kumar.Notably, Sunny Singh, president of the Saragarhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, regularly observes the anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi and pays tribute to the 21 Sikh soldiers who laid down their lives fighting bravely against overwhelming odds. He has remained committed to preserving the memory and legacy of these brave soldiers.Being a social activist also, I have decided with my team to observe the birth and death anniversary of Dilip Kumar at his house.The committee wants the restoration work to begin at the earliest and be completed before the actor’s birth anniversary on December 11.According to reports, the house was declared a national heritage site in July 2014 and was subsequently notified as a protected monument under the Antiquities Act. The government had also proposed acquiring the property and converting it into a museum depicting Dilip Kumar’s journey from Peshawar to Mumbai.However, despite repeated plans for preservation, the property has continued to deteriorate. A report in June 2025 said the upper portion of the ancestral house had collapsed, leaving only parts of the original structure intact.Dilip Kumar had retained an emotional connection with Peshawar and his childhood home. During a visit to the city, he reportedly visited the house and expressed his affection for the place associated with his early years.Singh said preserving the property would allow future generations to remain connected with the shared history and cultural heritage associated with Dilip Kumar and Peshawar.“The historic places of our past should be preserved so that future generations can also remain connected with their cultural heritage,” he said.
