Veteran actor Jeetendra has opened up about his remarkable journey from Bollywood to real estate, revealing how a modest investment in Mumbai’s Pali Hill decades ago became one of his biggest success stories. The actor also shared how his daughter Ekta KapoorThe desire to buy his first home changed his view on real estate investments and why he believes that “every property has a destiny”.
From a 5.25 lakh bungalow to a Rs 450 crore property
Looking back at his family’s first major real estate purchase, Jeetendra revealed that they bought legendary actor Bharat Bhushan’s Pali Hill bungalow for just Rs 5.25 lakh.“We bought that Pali Hill bungalow for Rs 5.25 lakh. The shocking part is that the plot was 3,450 square meters. We moved there and there was already a bungalow on the plot,” he recalled while speaking to The Realty Drive.The property was located near Gautam Apartment in Pali Hill, where Jeetendra later developed a residential building himself.“Later I constructed this building myself and sold the flats at Rs 85 per sq ft,” he said.Asked what the same land would be worth today, the veteran actor estimated, “I think it would easily be worth Rs 400-450 crore today.”
How Ekta Kapoor’s first home purchase changed everything
Jeetendra revealed that his daughter Ekta Kapoor’s desire to become financially independent became another turning point in his real estate journey.“One day, Ekta came to me. She was doing well in her career and wanted to become independent. She said, ‘Dad, I want to buy my flat’.”The actor soon realized that advertised property sizes weren’t always what they seemed.“He liked an apartment that was being sold at 3,000 square feet. I asked the seller, ‘How much is the actual square footage?’ He replied, “The actual area of the carpet is 1,700 square feet, but the superstructure is 3,000.” In those days, even kitchen platforms and similar spaces were included in the super urban area,” he said.
The Juhu land deal that almost collapsed
Jeetendra then narrated how a chance encounter led him to buy a plot in Juhu that would later become the family’s iconic Ekta House.“A man who had land in Juhu approached me and said, ‘You are looking for a house. Why don’t you buy my plot?’ I wanted to sell because I was getting unwanted phone calls from Dubai after people started saying I was building a bungalow.”He bought the plot for R4.25 million before deciding to buy the neighboring property as well.However, after agreeing to a token payment of Rs 10 lakh, the owner backed out of the deal as property prices had shot up.“I went to my lawyer. He’s still my lawyer today, a wonderful human being. He asked me, ‘Do you have evidence?’ I said, ‘Yes. I paid Rs 10 lakh by cheque, and she cashed it.” He immediately said, “Go and tell him that as long as you are not alive, he will never have this land.”Finally, both sides negotiated a revised price.“I agreed to pay a little more and finally got the property. Fortunately, both parcels became one large parcel of land, which gave us a much larger whole. If I had only one parcel, even a proper driveway would not have been possible.”
“You don’t choose the land, the land chooses you”
Reflecting on decades of investing, Jeetendra said real estate is often due to fate rather than planning.“Every deal has a story. Fate plays a very important role. No one is so smart that he usually makes big decisions about properties.”Making a spiritual comparison, he added, “Just like people say you don’t go to Shirdi unless Sai Baba calls you, I believe the land is the same. You don’t choose the land, the land chooses you.”He said his investments gradually expanded from Mira Road to Pune and Powai.“Then I bought land on Mira Road for a studio, later plots in Pune and finally a property in Powai where we developed data centres, partly in partnership with Mr Hiranandani. That’s how an actor became a builder.”
“We do nothing without Vastu”
Asked if Vastu plays a role in his developments, Jeetendra admitted that he follows it closely, but doesn’t believe it overrides destiny.“We don’t do anything without Vastu. But let me tell you one thing: everything has a remedy except superstition.”“If you believe in Vastu, it gives you confidence. You feel stronger because you’ve done what you think is right. It’s like praying to God: you feel like you’ve put your wishes before him. But eventually, what’s meant to happen will happen.”
How Balaji Telefilms he found his home
Jeetendra also revealed that one of his biggest construction projects almost by chance became the headquarters of Balaji Telefilms.“My last film was around 1996. At that time, the film industry was going through a difficult phase due to video piracy.”Believing her acting career was winding down, she turned her attention to real estate.“Around the same time, Ekta started Balaji Telefilms. I had already built the building where Balaji’s offices are today.”Interestingly, the building initially did not attract buyers.“When I built this property, my construction cost was around Rs 2,800 per sq ft, while the market price was only around Rs 2,600 per sq ft. So I couldn’t sell it. Luckily, Ekta’s company took off, she needed office space, and Balaji moved into this building. That’s how it all came about. I had no idea then that Ekta would become so successful.”
“Sharks spare no one”
Despite being one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Jeetendra said celebrity status never gave him any edge in property deals.“It doesn’t make things easy. Sharks don’t forgive anyone.”Recalling another major investment, he said: “I bought a 12-acre property. Initially, it was meant for a home for the elderly. But the land was tied up in litigation. It took me seven to eight years to sort out all the legal issues, and during that time my investment almost tripled.”His investment eventually grew from around Rs 8 crore to nearly Rs 21 crore before the property’s value multiplied significantly.“Good land rewards you in the end. When I first bought it, there was nothing around. Just look at the area today.”
Bollywood vs real estate
When asked about the biggest difference between acting and real estate, Jeetendra gave a simple but insightful answer.“As an actor, people come to see you. In real estate, I have to go to town.”He also noted that the business comes with its own uncertainties.“Real estate also has its uncertainties. Governments can change laws halfway through. Regulations can change. New restrictions can come in.”For Jeetendra, however, success is not measured by profits alone.“Profits aren’t just about making money. When buyers willingly pay for your project, it means they’ve appreciated your work. Nobody gives you money for free; you either earn it by force or by delivering something worthwhile. I’d rather earn it by doing good work.”