Rajesh Khanna's iconic Carter Road bungalow Aashirwad has been renamed Vardan Aashirwad as per the late actor's last wish

After veteran superstar Rajesh Khanna's demise last month, his home on Carter Road in Bandra turned into almost a shrine where thousands of fans poured in to pay their last respects. According to the late actor's last wish, the iconic landmark Aashirwad has been renamed as Vardan Aashirwad.

While some have expressed surprise at the sudden name change, we tell you the reason behind it.

A source close to the family says, `It was Kakaji's last wish. He wanted the name of the bungalow to be changed from Aashirwad to Vardan Aashirwad. However, it could not be done earlier due to his failing health. The name was finally altered only a couple of days back.`

The source adds, `Kakaji always felt that Aashirwad should be named Vardan Aashirwad and he had conveyed his wish to his wife Dimple Kapadia and daughters and his son-in-law Akshay Kumar. That's how now one can see the new name on the bungalow.`


Change of hands

As a child, Khanna stayed at Charni Road with his foster father Chunnilal Khanna, post which he shifted to Girgaon.

At the time when he was still coming up as an actor, he purchased Aashirwad from actor Rajendra Kumar. Incidentally, the bungalow was then called Dimple, after Kumar's daughter. Little did Khanna know then that his future-wife too would be called Dimple.

When Khanna decided to continue with the bungalow's name, Kumar was not too happy. So he named his new house Dimple, forcing Khanna to come up with a new name for his newly purchased residence. Khanna remained in this house for nearly 40 years and breathed his last here, at the age of 69.