Heavy rainfall followed by a strong earthquake on Friday night caused a part of the historic Kapoor Haveli, once home to legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor, to collapse in Peshawar. Officials and local residents said that continuous rains had already weakened the old structure, and the earthquake worsened the damage.

The Pakistan government declared this over hundred-year-old haveli, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a national heritage site in 2016. Its fragile condition made it vulnerable, and the recent natural events caused serious structural damage.

Wall Collapse Raises Safety Concerns

Shakeel Waheedullah, secretary of the heritage council in KPK province, confirmed that the earthquake caused a section of the haveli’s wall to collapse. He raised serious concerns about the safety of the remaining structure.

Thankfully, authorities reported no injuries or casualties in the incident.

Call for Immediate Restoration

Waheedullah urged the archaeology department and the provincial government to take immediate action to restore and protect the historic building. He warned that continued neglect could lead to the permanent loss of an important cultural landmark.

A Place of Deep Historical Importance

Kapoor Haveli stands in the famous Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar and remains one of Pakistan’s most important historical sites. Despite its cultural value, authorities have allowed the building to fall into poor condition over the years.

Prithviraj Kapoor, the first member of the Kapoor family to enter the film industry, once lived in this haveli. His father, Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor, built the house between 1918 and 1922.

The haveli also served as the birthplace of Raj Kapoor and his uncle Trilok Kapoor.

Architectural Beauty of Its Time

Builders designed the haveli as one of the finest structures of its time. It included around 40 rooms and featured detailed floral designs along with traditional jharokhas on its front facade. Even today, the building still shows signs of its former beauty, despite years of neglect and its current fragile condition.

Kapoor Family History and Memories

The haveli witnessed several important moments in the Kapoor family’s life. Two younger siblings of Raj Kapoor were born there but died in 1931. His brothers, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, were born later in India.

Although the family eventually moved, they continued to visit and sometimes stay in the haveli during earlier years.

Abandoned After Partition

The family left the haveli in 1947 after the Partition of India. Like many others, Raj Kapoor and his family moved to India, leaving behind their home and childhood memories in Peshawar. In the 1990s, his sons Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor visited the haveli and reconnected with their family’s past.