Iconic RK Studios to be turned into residential complex-cum-shopping plaza

Mumbai : Iconic 71-year-old RK Studios has now found a new owner who has plans to turn the place into a residential complex-cum-shopping plaza in coming days, said a news report.

Realty major Godrej Properties Ltd. Has purchased the 2.20 acres (roughly, 100,000 sq. feet) RK Studio premises in Chembur, north-east Mumbai -- founded in 1948. GPL signed the deal with Kapoors for an undisclosed amount and have now started working on the plans to convert it into a modern residential apartment complex and a luxury retail centre spread over a saleable area of around 350,000 sq. feet.

Executive Chairman of GPL, Pirojsha Godrej, said the deal fits with the company's strategy of deepening its presence in key locations across India's leading cities. "We will seek to ensure we celebrate the remarkable legacy of this site with the goal of delivering an outstanding lifestyle for its residents," Godrej said.

Reacting to the news, Bollywood actor Randhir Kapoor also mentioned that "this property in Chembur, has been of tremendous significance to my family over the many decades that RK Studio has operated from there. We are excited to have chosen GPL to script a new chapter for this location and build upon its rich history." 

The RK Studio was the shooting venue for some classics of RK Films like Aag (1948), Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Jaagte Raho (1956), Anari (1959), Sangam (1964), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) and many more.

Raj Kapoor died in June 1988 after which some of his incomplete films like Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1989), Henna (1991) were also made here.