Shah Rukh Khan’s sea-facing bungalow, Mannat, is one of Mumbai’s most recognizable landmarks. But few know that this celebrity residence, once called Villa Vienna, has roots that stretch back to the 19th century. Built by Raja Bijai Sen of Mandi for one of his queens, the mansion has passed through royal, Parsi, and Jewish hands before finally becoming Khan’s home in 2001. Today, Mannat is under renovation, blending Bollywood glamour with a layered historical legacy. (Image: CNBC TV18)
Raja Bijai Sen (1846-1902) inherited the princely state of Suket (now part of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district) at the age of four after the death of his father, Raja Balbir Sen. A regency council led by his wazir, Gosain, governed until Bijai came of age. By 1864, the young ruler was honoured with an 11-gun salute, and in 1866 he formally assumed administrative powers. His reign was marked by reforms; he built schools, hospitals, post offices, and roads, and oversaw the construction of the Victoria Bridge over the River Beas in 1877. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
It was during this period that Bijai Sen commissioned a grand mansion in Bandra, Mumbai, for his queen. This property would later be known as Villa Vienna. (Image: Reddit)
After Raja Bijai Sen’s death in 1902, the mansion was sold in 1915 to Perin Maneckji Batliwala, a Parsi music enthusiast. He renamed it Villa Vienna as a tribute to his love for Viennese classical music. (Image: Threads)
The house later became linked to Kekoo Gandhy, Batliwala’s grandson, who played a pivotal role in nurturing modern Indian art. Austrian painter Walter Langhammer, fleeing Nazi persecution, found refuge in Bombay and collaborated with Gandhy. Together, they created spaces for artists like M.F. Husain to flourish. Eventually, the upkeep of Villa Vienna became difficult, and the property was sold again. (Image: WSJ)
Before Shah Rukh Khan bought the property, a businessman named Nariman Dubash owned it. He later sold the property to a builder. From the builder, it was reportedly purchased by businessman and film producer Bharat Shah in the late 1990s, before reaching its most famous owner. (Image: Instagram)
In the late 1990s, Shah Rukh Khan often passed by the mansion while filming Yes Boss. Captivated by its charm, he purchased it in 2001, renaming it Mannat later. (Image: Screengrab/YouTube)
The actor later revealed that buying the house stretched his finances: “It was way beyond our budget. We bought it, but didn’t know how to furnish it. The designer we consulted charged more for lunch than my monthly salary!” Ultimately, it was Gauri Khan who took charge of the interiors, transforming Mannat into the iconic residence it is today. Now undergoing renovations with plans to add two more floors, Mannat continues to stand as a symbol of both Bollywood stardom and India’s rich historical heritage. (Image: Instagram)
The iconic property, purchased by Shah Rukh Khan in 2001 for ₹13 crore, is valued at around ₹200 crore as of 2024. Spread across six storeys, it features multiple bedrooms and living spaces, a pool, gym, library, and a private auditorium, with new floors planned for the annexe. (Image: Instagram)