Long before it became a Mumbai icon and a symbol of limitless dreams, Mannat was simply a house that a young Shah Rukh Khan admired from afar. Back in the late 90s, when he was still rising to fame, the superstar often took long walks with wife Gauri along Bandstand, dreaming of a future that seemed larger than life.
One evening during these strolls, Shah Rukh stopped in front of a grand villa, then owned by the Bai Khorshed Bhanu Sanjana Trust, and made a quiet promise to Gauri that one day, it would be theirs.
Aziz Mirza opens up about Shah Rukh Khan’s early dreams
Director Aziz Mirza, who worked with Shah Rukh on Yes Boss, remembers those days vividly. In an interview with Radio Nasha, Mirza said, “Shah Rukh was staying at my house, Devdoot, which was very close to Mannat. He and Gauri were young then, full of dreams. I remember they used to go on walks, and I’m sure during one such stroll, he must have promised her that he would buy that house someday.”
At the time, Shah Rukh was filming the now-famous song Chaand Taare right near the property, not knowing that fate was already aligning in his favour.
‘Aziz, I’ve bought that house’
Recalling the moment Shah Rukh shared the news with him, Mirza said, “I clearly remember, once while shooting near Cafe Seaside, he pointed towards Mannat and told me, ‘Aziz, I’ve bought that house.’ Of course, there were many challenges — legal formalities with the municipality and issues with the neighboring properties — but eventually, he overcame them all.”
Jannat, then Mannat
Initially, Shah Rukh and Gauri named their new home Jannat, meaning paradise. But in 2005, they gave it a new name: Mannat, a word that means a heartfelt wish or blessing. Fitting, given how much the house symbolized a dream realized against all odds.
Today, Mannat is valued at over Rs 200 crore, and its gates have become a pilgrimage spot for fans from all over the world, who believe in the magic of dreaming big.
Renovations at Mannat
Currently, Shah Rukh, Gauri, and their family have temporarily relocated to a luxury apartment complex in Bandra to allow extensive renovations at Mannat. They’ve rented two duplexes from producer Vashu Bhagnani, shelling out Rs 24 lakh a month in rent, about Rs 2.9 crore a year.