Two girls and the most famous house in Bandra

An 80's story

The other day my friend Urvashi sends me a picture, and asks do you recognise this house?

You need to be living under a rock not to recognise it.

It’s possibly the most famous house in Bandra, actually I would even say India.

Villa Vienna. I’m not sure who this picture belongs to. Please get in touch if you do, would like to credit the person.

It’s what was once called Villa Vienna. And is now called Mannat.

But this is not the story of Shahrukh Khan, this is the story of the 80’s. When life was simpler, and two young girls from Delhi could have an adventure. This is Urvashi’s story, so here it is in her own words.

I had quite forgotten our trip to Bombay till an old friend posted photos on a class whatsapp group. In December 1988, about 20 of us had come to Bombay to suss out companies for student placement. This was an industrial visit part funded by the college and coinciding with our winter break. After the first couple of days, since we had no professors accompanying us, there was nothing to stop us from relegating corporate visits to the backseat, and becoming tourists in this glittery city. With great gusto we went to as many places as possible for maximum experiences - Elephanta Caves, Kanheri Caves, Lonavala, had pao bhaji, juice at Haji Ali, walked on the walls of Marine Drive, cold coffee at Samovar.

We stayed at a hostel in Khar. One evening, and this was Christamas Eve, we decided to see a movie. Tezaab had great reviews. The closest hall we could get tickets for our squad was at Gaiety-Galaxy. We thoroughly enjoyed the movie and like all college kids danced in the aisles to Madhuri’s Ek Do Teen.

The next day, my friend Mendi’s uncle lent us his car to go around Bandra. After the driver pointed out houses of various film stars, he parked the car outside this abandoned but beautiful bungalow. It had columns and artwork on the pediment.

Then he turned and told us that Tezaab was shot here, and this was Madhuri Dixiti’s residence in the movie. Imagine that!

A still from Tezaab

We just had to visit it. Luckily there was no one around, there was no gate and no one to stop us from entering the grounds.

Tumbling out of the car we ran in a bid to reach the top of the staircase, my friend and I were the first to reach. Luckily one of us was carrying a camera and the picture was taken.

Villa Vienna. Picture credit : Urvashi

Villa Vienna. Picture Credit :Urvashi

I loved this story because it really was this simple in the 80’s. No guards and gate passes and barbed wire. You could be young and free and mostly very safe. And of course movies in gaiety-galaxy, with tickets in black thrown in.

The best part? You could make memories that decades later would not just look sepia tinted, but also seen unbelievable.

And oh if you want to know more about Villa Vienna, here’s an interesting link https://thepaperclip.in/mannat-and-kekee-manzil-neighbors-in-a-world-of-art/

And here’s another picture they found, in front of Sea Rock. Unscathed by bomb blasts and in its heydays, with the revolving restaurant sitting on the top. The Taj still hadn’t been built. The young college students are standing on the hill where the Bandra fort is. Again no walls, no gates, no security guards.

Just enough room and freedom for an adventure.

Sea Rock Hotel & bandstand. Picture Credit: Urvashi

Memory Keepers Of Bandra is a project that documents oral history of the senior generation who live or have lived in Bandra, Mumbai. Through their lived experiences, it pieces together history, geography, culture and community, and offers an insight into the neighbourhood.

Thank you to Urvashi and her friends (who are not really seniors as yet!) for the pictures and this write up. If you would like to read a piece on another famous Bandra landmark, then I leave you with this.