Property rates have shot up as much as hundred per cent in the last six months in this area, thanks mainly to a host of celebrities, who have purchased homes at Carter Road and Bandra Bandstand. After Sachin Tendulkar’s recent acquisition of an old bungalow at Perry Cross Road, Saif Ali Khan is believed to have bought a duplex flat at a high rise at Carter Road, which already boasts of star presence including Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan, who are reportedly getting their new homes done up here.
A while ago, Akshay Kumar seemed to be interested in buying the Rajesh Khanna bungalow, which is also at Carter Road, however there hasn’t been any development on that front.
Says real estate broker Deepak Jain, “Rates have shot up from Rs 20, 000 to Rs 40, 000 per square feet. People are quoting the price they want, simply because they are surrounded with stars.” Agrees Manoj Mejwani, another real estate broker, “Surely, Carter beats Pali when it comes to price, and Carter is also at par with Bandra Bandstand. Today, everybody wants to stay near the sea, and in Bandra there are only these two places, where the seafront is available.”
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who shot to fame with ‘Om Shanti Om’ is said to have purchased her new pad close to beau Ranbir Kapoor’s bungalow at Pali. It is believed that the place has cost her more than rupees two crores.
Says Roshini Rawail, a teacher and a resident of Carter Road, who wants to give her house as Paying Guest (PG), hasn’t been able to find any takers for a while now simply because of the exorbitant rates, “It’s been more than a year that I am looking for a PG for my home. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find anybody.” Remarks Colonel Kappor, a senior citizen and resident of Carter Road, “At one point of time, Pali Hill was the deciding factor, when it came to determining rates. Today, it’s Carter Road and Bandra Bandstand.” Actor Aftab Shivdasani, who has been a townie all his life, has recently purchased flat at Mount Mary and says, “Buying property in Bandra is not at all easy. For me, it was more of a convenience factor as I spend over two hours commuting each day, since my work happens to be in the suburbs.”
The Bandstand promenade begins at ‘Galaxy’, where Salman Khan resides, and ends with ‘Mannat’, the palatial bungalow of ShahRukh Khan. Nestled between them is Arjun Rampal. Says Mandira Rodricks, who lives in the building next to Shah Rukh’s residence, and has recently decided to sell her 2-BHK flat and got some great offers, simply because of his celebrity neighbour, “I wouldn’t like to quote the prices, which I was offered. It’s most definitely more than hundred per cent of the market price. There are people who want to pay me the entire cash amount of my property, only because of SRK, whose bungalow can be seen through my balcony.”
