For over 5 many years, Galaxy Flats in Bandra has been extra than simply an handle. It has been the center of the Khan household, the backdrop to Salman Khan’s superstardom, and a landmark that thousands and thousands of followers have visited simply to catch a glimpse of the actor waving from his balcony. Now, with reviews suggesting that the Bollywood actor is lastly making ready to maneuver out after dwelling there for over 52 years, curiosity across the iconic house has reached an all-time excessive. However lengthy earlier than it turned one in all Bollywood’s most recognisable residences, Galaxy Flats represented one thing a lot larger for Salman’s father and screenwriter Salim Khan—it was proof that years of wrestle had lastly paid off.
A younger man from Indore who dreamed larger
Earlier than changing into one in all Hindi cinema’s most celebrated screenwriters, Salim Khan was merely a younger man from Indore with goals far larger than his environment. Paradoxically, his earliest writing assignments have been love letters. His life modified throughout a marriage in Indore attended by a number of Bombay movie producers, together with filmmaker Ok Amarnath.
Author Salim Khan. Specific archive picture
Recalling the turning level in Prime Video’s Offended Younger Males, Salim mentioned, “My profession took off at a marriage in Indore. Tarachand Barjatya’s son was getting married. Many producers had come from Bombay, and I’d usually go to the lodge the place they have been staying.” He remembered Amarnath recognizing him and asking whether or not he needed to behave in movies. “I advised him I had by no means acted earlier than. He mentioned, ‘There was a primary time even for Dilip Kumar. No one is aware of appearing earlier than they start.’”
Quickly after, Salim arrived in Bombay for a display screen take a look at and landed a small position within the movie Baraat (1960), taking part in actor Ajit’s youthful brother.
The wrestle behind the dream
Bombay wasn’t glamorous. Initially, Ajit supplied Salim a vacant home to remain in till it was offered. “It was my dangerous luck that it was offered in a short time,” Salim recalled. “Then I needed to transfer to Marina Visitor Home.” The visitor home was a world away from the comfy life he had left behind in Indore. “There every room had two beds. The lease was Rs 55 a month. My first ambition was to have the ability to lease your complete room.”
That straightforward dream remained out of attain for years. Salim shared the room with one other paying visitor and used a standard lavatory with everybody else.
“My elder brother had advised me earlier than I left, ‘You’ll come operating again.’ At residence, we even had a servant who poured water whereas we washed our face. However I by no means requested my household for cash.”
Story continues under this advert
Years later, throughout a chat on the Arbaaz Khan-hosted speak present The Invincibles, Salim revealed the surprisingly humorous motive he desperately needed his personal room. “The person who shared the room with me snored so much—and there was no rhythm to his loud night breathing. Each time he snored, I awakened.” That sleeplessness turned his motivation.
From struggling actor to legendary author
Salim spent years doing small appearing roles and ads earlier than accepting a troublesome reality — appearing won’t safe his future. He shifted to writing—a choice that might finally change Hindi cinema endlessly by way of his iconic partnership with lyrics and screenwriter Javed Akhtar. However success didn’t come in a single day.
Whereas nonetheless struggling, Salim married Salma and the couple shifted to a rented house in Mahim. It took him almost 14 years in Bombay earlier than he may lastly purchase his first residence—a flat in Galaxy Flats. The acquisition reportedly got here after the outstanding success of Zanjeer in 1973, which reworked Salim-Javed into Bollywood’s most sought-after writing duo.
2nd from left: Johnny Walker, Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan. Specific archive picture
On the time, residences in Bandra usually value between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh, in accordance with actual property reviews tracked over time. Few may have imagined that the identical property would someday be price lots of of occasions extra.
Story continues under this advert
Right now, the Khan household owns two flooring in Galaxy Flats, with the property’s collective estimated worth believed to exceed Rs 100 crore. Actual property consultants estimate {that a} flat bought for round Rs 1 lakh within the early Seventies may now command wherever between Rs 20 crore and Rs 50 crore, whereas Salman Khan’s first-floor 1 BHK residence alone is estimated to be price round Rs 16 crore.
Galaxy house which homes movie star Salman Khan’s flat lights up after the Bombay Excessive Courtroom acquitted him of all expenses within the 2002 hit-ans-run case at Bandra. Specific Photograph by Amit Chakravarty. 10.12.2015. Mumbai.
Why Salman Khan by no means left Galaxy
Salman Khan was solely eight years previous when the household shifted into Galaxy Flats. Even after changing into one in all India’s greatest superstars—with a reported internet price operating into hundreds of crores—he selected to proceed dwelling in the identical modest one-bedroom house on the primary flooring, whereas his mother and father stayed on the ground above.
ALSO READ | Poisonous ‘Girls and Girls’ teaser is all about Yash; he’s the one one who will get to talk
His resolution has puzzled many over time. Throughout an look on Aap Ki Adalat, Salman shared a narrative that stunned many.
Story continues under this advert
Salman Khan alongside along with his father Salim Khan greet followers at his Galaxy residence.
“We noticed a good looking bungalow price Rs 22 crore,” he recalled. “My father favored it too. However he advised the proprietor, ‘The one drawback is your property prices Rs 22 crore and we’re brief by Rs 20 crore.’ Earlier we used to fall brief in lakhs, now we fall brief in crores. Sadly, God is making every thing besides new land.”
For Salman, nevertheless, Galaxy was by no means about cash.
Talking at an occasion, he defined, “Individuals choose us as a result of we’re movie stars. However the folks on this constructing know Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail from childhood. They know we haven’t modified after coming into movies.”
Galaxy’s greater than a celebrity’s handle
Galaxy Flats finally turned rather more than Salman’s residence. Each Eid and on his birthday, hundreds collect exterior his residence, hoping for a glimpse of the actor from his well-known balcony. However many collect in search of assist from the star. Salim Khan as soon as revealed that the household frequently helped lots of of individuals in search of monetary help by way of the actor’s Being Human Basis.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan alongside along with his bodygurard Shera, mom and father Salim Khan arrives in Bandra on Saturday. Specific picture by Karma Sonam Bhutia, 07 April 2018, Mumbai.
“Day-after-day, at the least 400 folks could be exterior our home,” he mentioned. “Kin of most cancers sufferers, accident victims and others would queue up. Docs from the inspiration verified their reviews, and I signed 20 to 25 cheques each day. We distributed round Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh day by day.”
Story continues under this advert
The tip of an period
In response to reviews, Salman is now making ready to maneuver right into a newly constructed six-storey household residence on Chimbai Highway in Bandra West. The plot was reportedly bought in 2011 within the title of his mom, Salma Khan. In 2018, plans for the redevelopment have been submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company, and the proposal has since obtained approval. The brand new property will comprise a floor flooring, stilt parking and 6 higher flooring, spanning over 1,000 sq. metres. As per sources, the explanation for the transfer stays privateness and safety it might probably afford versus the comparatively uncovered house. Salman obtained Y class safety after gangster Lawrence Bishnoi threatened him and there was an incident of firing exterior his residence.
But, for thousands and thousands of followers, Galaxy Flats will stay irreplaceable. It’s the place Salman Khan grew up, the place one in all India’s best screenwriters fulfilled the dream that started in a Rs 55-a-month shared room, and the place generations of followers gathered—not simply to see a celebrity, however to witness a bit of Bollywood historical past.
