Geeta Dutt and Guru Dutt had a loving marriage, that was until the playback singer started to feel something eerie about their residence. Geeta was sleeping in the guest house of the Pali Hill bungalow one afternoon when she heard a loud bang. Startled by the sound, she woke up at around 4 pm, only to notice her house being demolished in front of her eyes. However, what led to the moment was something that left her Guru Dutt heartbroken.
Geeta Dutt forced Guru Dutt to demolish their Pali Hill bungalow
Geeta Dutt, confused by what was happening, called her husband, Guru Dutt, immediately. However, he told her to let the labourers demolish the house. Yes! It was none other than the actor who had asked them to demolish the building. The story was recorded in Yasser Usman’s biography of the Bollywood icon, who struggled with mental health issues and addiction for the majority of his celebrated career. According to the book, Guru Dutt was heartbroken about having to raze his dream house, but his wife forced his hand because she felt that it was haunted. Guru Dutt’s sister Lalita Lajmi talked about the same in the book and stated:
“She believed that the bungalow was haunted. There was a particular tree in the house, and she said there was a ghost who lived in that tree, who was bringing bad omens and ruining their marriage. She also had something against a Buddha statue that was kept in their huge drawing room.”
According to Lalita Lajmi, it was her sister-in-law, Geeta Dutt, who suggested that they vacate the house, and it broke Guru’s heart. The book quoted Guru as stating that he always wanted to be happy in his household and that his residence was the most beautiful among all the buildings on Pali Hill. He added that sitting in that house, it didn’t feel or look like they were in Bombay (now Mumbai). In the book, he was further quoted as asking where else one could find it, yet he could not stay there any longer.
Geeta Dutt blamed the bungalow for her disintegrating relationship with her husband, Guru Dutt
Geeta Dutt started blaming the bungalow for her failing relationship with Guru Dutt. Some people had suggested that the rift only began after they moved into the Pali Hill residence, and Geeta believed them. The bungalow was Guru’s dream house but soon became a source of insomnia for him. Guru would go to his studio where his man ‘Friday’ would unlock a small seven-foot by seven-foot room so he could sleep off depravity. She was quoted as saying:
“I remember it was his birthday. He loved that house, and he was heartbroken when it was demolished. Guru Dutt had agreed to what Geeta wanted, but it broke his heart. He used to blame Geeta for the house. Geeta was suspicious and also believed in ghosts. Guru’s stars were bad. He did not give a second thought to it. The beautiful bungalow was destroyed. Ever since the bungalow was pulled down, Guru Dutt’s home went to pieces gradually.”
Writer, Bimal Mitra described Guru Dutt’s Pali Hill bungalow after it was razed to the ground
Bimal Mitra the writer of Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, was curious to learn what made Guru Dutt demolish the house and equally concerned about the actor’s wellbeing. Guru Dutt offered to take him to the site, where he saw the remains of what once was an exquisite piece of architecture. He was quoted as saying:
“The majestic bungalow where he had been a guest during his multiple script writing visits to Bombay had been razed to the ground. The room where Guru used to sleep now just had rubble in its place. Broken Italian blue marble was lying in place of the exquisite bathroom. All he could see was splintered timber, chunks of plaster and shattered pieces of a dream.”
While nothing could confirm Geeta Dutt’s suspicion of the presence of an evil spirit, it cost Guru Dutt his dream house. What are your thoughts on the actor being forced to demolish his Pali Hill bungalow? Let us know
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