In a city where monsoon misery is an annual ritual, even the most iconic addresses aren’t spared. This week, torrential rains lashed Mumbai, flooding streets, halting transport, and submerging homes—including one of Bollywood’s most storied landmarks: Prateeksha, the Juhu bungalow that launched Amitabh Bachchan’s Mumbai journey and became the cradle of the Bachchan legacy.
A viral video circulating on social media shows ankle-deep water pooling outside Prateeksha, seeping into its premises. The person filming the video says, “Look how much water has accumulated here... No matter how much money you have, even if you’re worth thousands of crores, no one can escape the Mumbai rains.”
Responding to the video, X influencer Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) commented, "BMC spares no one. Even Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow gets flooded."
Another X user Ramesh Rajagopalan (@RameshR52832553) said, "Ultimately, Raingod had to tell people that they are human beings first and then only their profession as celebrities and nature's nature is to treat all human beings as equal."
The flooding of Prateeksha comes amid a red alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, with Mumbai receiving intense spells of rain that have disrupted flights, stranded monorails, and caused widespread waterlogging. The video of Prateeksha’s inundation has sparked debate online about urban planning failures, drainage infrastructure, and the vulnerability of even elite neighborhoods.
A house built on cinematic history
Prateeksha isn’t just a bungalow—it’s a symbol. Purchased in 1976, shortly after the blockbuster success of Sholay, the property was reportedly gifted to Bachchan by director Ramesh Sippy to celebrate the film’s cultural impact. It was the first home where Amitabh lived with his parents, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, and where both Shweta Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were born.
The name “Prateeksha” was chosen by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, inspired by a line from his poetry: “Swagat sabke liye yaha par, nahi kisi ke liye prateeksha”—a home open to all, waiting for none.
A legacy passed on
In November 2023, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan formally gifted Prateeksha to their daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, executing two gift deeds and paying Rs 50.65 lakh in stamp duty. The bungalow, spread across 17,000 sq ft, is valued at Rs 50.63 crore, and remains one of Mumbai’s most photographed celebrity residences.
More than bricks and mortar
For fans and film historians, Prateeksha is more than a residence—it’s a repository of memories. It hosted the wedding of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in 2007, and was the site where Bachchan planted a Gulmohar tree in memory of his mother, later replanting it after a storm uprooted it in 2020.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
