Veteran actor Asrani played a pivotal role in bringing actresses Rekha and Jaya Bachchan to live in the same Mumbai building. He assisted Rekha in finding her first rented flat and later connected Jaya Bachchan with the same broker, making them neighbors. This building later housed several other stars.
Everyone knows that there was a time when Jaya Bachchan and Rekha lived in the same building. However, did you know you helped them find their respective homes? It was the late veteran star Asrani. Read on to know about Asrani’s role in bringing the ‘Silsila’ actresses under the same building.
Asrani helped Rekha find a home in Mumbai
In an interaction with Vickey Lalwani, film historian, author, and a close friend of Asrani, Hanif Zaveri revealed that the ‘Dhamaal’ actor was very helpful in nature. Highlighting the same, he shared, “When Asrani sahab became successful, he helped Rekha find a home. Rekha was looking for a flat. She came from Madras (now called Chennai), and back then, she used to travel all the way from there to shoot and then return home. She wasn’t even such a big star back then, and she needed a place to stay. So she contacted Asrani sahab regarding the same, who made her meet a broker, and she found a flat on rent.”
Asrani’s broker gave Jaya Bachchan a flat in the same building where Rekha was living
Thereafter, when Jaya was looking for a home in Mumbai, as she came from Bhopal, she also reached out to Asrani. The late actor and the ‘Mili’ actress had a profound bond from the start, and thus, Asrani made her meet the same broker. “And that’s how Jaya Bachchan and Rekha started living in the same building.” This is now Rekha and Jaya Bachchan became neighbors. The historian highlighted the same building then became home to several other stars.
Asrani’s demise
Asrani passed away on October 20, 2025, after battling a prolonged illness. His last rites took place on the same day, amid his close friends and family, as it was the actor’s wish to keep it a private affair. Though the star is no more, his two films – ‘Haiwaan’ and ‘Bhoot Bangla’ will be released in 2026.
