Entertainment

Kangana Ranaut Sells Controversial Pali Hill Bungalow for Rs 32 Crore Amid ‘Emergency’ Film Controversy

Actress Kangana Ranaut has been in the news for selling her plush Pali Hill bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai. According to various reports, the actress sold the bungalow at an estimated Rs 32 crore.

The bungalow, once the source of much controversy with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, was sold, reports claim, after Kangana bought it for Rs 20.7 crore in September 2017. The heavy sale amount highlights a good return on investment for the actress, but the property had always been mired in controversy due to legal tussles in the past.

Kangana’s Loan and Financial Background

Besides purchasing the bungalow, Kangana had taken a loan of Rs 27 crore from ICICI Bank in December 2022 by mortgaging the said property. This bungalow had been used as office space for her production house, Manikarnika Films-a name close to her heart with regards to her Bollywood career. Manikarnika Films has produced a spate of projects, including films starring Kangana herself.

Besides, owing to her businesses and personal engagements, there might have been many other reasons that could have prompted the financial decision of selling the property. The selling of the property at Rs 32 crore gave Kangana a neat profit as she had bought it at Rs 20.7 crore, though it is not sure if the outstanding loan on the property was also one of the reasons for its sale.

Social Media Buzz About the Sale

Although unofficial channels did not confirm news of the sale, speculation about it first started to emerge when a popular YouTube channel called Code Estate posted a video last month showcasing one of the production house offices for sale.

Although the video did not contain either the name of the owner or the production house, the visuals and description were enough to make social media users predict that it was Kangana Ranaut’s house. The video furthered the speculation when it elaborated on key aspects of the property that got described as the office space of Kangana.

This video description says it is on a plot measuring 285 square meters, having a total constructed area of about 3,042 square feet with an additional 500 square feet of parking area. Being two-storeyed, that makes this a pretty valuable property right in the heart of one of the costliest real estates in Mumbai, Pali Hill. While the bungalow had tagged in the market for Rs 40 crore, recent reports state that the sold price of the same was Rs 32 crore.

The BMC Controversy

The said property has received much attention from the public and courts. In September last year, it had become the center of a high-profile spat between Kangana and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It had issued a notice, accusing Kangana of carrying out illegal construction at the bungalow.

Soon after, parts of the property housing Manikarnika Films were demolished by the civic body. The demolition became a media storm and drew massive public attention as it was perceived as a retaliatory move against Kangana over her outspoken political views and criticisms against the Maharashtra government.

Khanana approached the courts and moved the Bombay High Court, which stayed the demolition with an order issued on September 9, 2020. Nothing more could be damaged thereafter in her office space.

The legal tug-of-war between the BMC and Kangana continued, with the actress seeking Rs 2 crore as compensation for the damages caused in the partial demolition. However, in a surprise turn of events, Kangana withdrew her compensation claims this May 2023. That indeed was an end to her legal battle with the BMC over the property.

Film Projects and Public Scrutiny

While Kangana’s real estate sale has been making headlines, the actress is also making news regarding her upcoming film, Emergency. The movie is one of the highly publicized projects, and its release was scheduled to hit theatres on September 6, 2024. However, the release has been delayed over delays in getting certification from the CBFC.

The film is essentially a narration of the Emergency imposed in India from 1975 to 1977 and has become a controversy for the representation of history and personalities. A section of Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Akal Takht, have objected to certain portions of the film.

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These groups claim that the film Emergency demeans the community of the Sikhs, besides accusing the film of “character assassination” on the people of the Sikhs. The calls for its boycott and demands for a ban on the film have added to the tensions surrounding its release. Undoubtedly, all the legal and political challenges on Emergency add more pressure on Kangana as both the lead actress and the producer.

Despite all this, Kangana Ranaut has remained incorrigible to this date, and the delay of her film has not dampened her spirits. An outspoken actress with her political and social opinion, she remains undisputed on social media sites where she enjoys a massive following.