Farah Khan likens Diana Penty’s century‑old Mumbai residence to Mannat

Post by : Mina Rahman

Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan recently visited actor Diana Penty’s ancestral residence in Mumbai and offered high praise for the property’s historical and architectural value. The house, maintained by the family for about a century, prompted Farah to draw a comparison with Shah Rukh Khan’s famous home, Mannat, noting the spaciousness and period character of the rooms.

The walkthrough formed part of Farah’s personal vlog series, in which she tours notable celebrity homes. She arrived with her cook, Dilip, and was received by Diana and her mother, who guided the guests through the expansive family house.

Diana explained that the family has occupied the property for four generations. Constructed during her great‑grandfather’s era roughly a hundred years ago, the house has been carefully preserved despite surrounding development. It remains an example of Mumbai’s colonial‑era domestic architecture, characterised by high ceilings, broad arches, tall wooden doors and original period furnishings.

Farah responded to the interiors with visible surprise, asking for a guided tour and pausing at a carved wooden table and antique mirror to learn more. Diana’s mother confirmed the furniture was over a century old, and Farah quipped about the sense of time that the house evokes.

The visit continued through the living areas and into the kitchen, which Farah described as remarkable. Her cook admitted he had rarely seen a home with such preserved character. Diana mentioned she also has a farm outside the city, while Farah observed that the atmosphere felt unlike central Mumbai, more reminiscent of a different era.

Inside, the residence blends traditional craftsmanship with lived‑in warmth. Large windows allow abundant daylight, patterned floors and a leafy verandah create a calm ambience, and many corners hold family heirlooms and artifacts accumulated over decades. One notable item is a large wooden carousel‑like structure said to have been gifted to Diana’s grandfather after World War II, underscoring the property’s multi‑layered history.

During the tour Farah made a spontaneous comparison of the home’s scale to that of Mannat, observing that some rooms rival the size of prominent celebrity living spaces. Diana modestly disagreed, but the exchange highlighted the affectionate rapport between the two public figures and generated lighthearted moments on camera.

In a city where historic residences are increasingly replaced by modern development, Diana Penty’s house serves as a tangible reminder of Mumbai’s colonial past and the importance of conserving such structures. The property’s continuity across generations contrasts with the predominantly contemporary designs that now characterise many celebrity homes.

Architectural details — the verandah with potted plants and rustic seating, gently faded pastel walls and enduring wooden frames — reflect deliberate preservation and an appreciation for the home’s heritage. The overall impression is one of continuity, memory and familial stewardship.

For viewers of Farah’s vlog, the episode offered a reflective moment on urban change and cultural legacy rather than a typical celebrity showcase. It underscored how a single family property can encapsulate broader conversations about history, identity and the built environment in Mumbai.

Outside of her family home, Diana Penty has an established film career. She debuted in Cocktail opposite Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, and has since appeared in titles including Happy Bhag Jayegi, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi and Salute. Her recent work includes the film Detective Sherdil, featuring Diljit Dosanjh, Boman Irani, Chunky Panday and Banita Sandhu, and the Amazon Prime Video series Do You Wanna Partner, released on September 12, which also stars Tamannaah Bhatia and Neeraj Kabi.

Farah Khan’s visit provided more than a celebrity house tour: it documented a living example of heritage conservation in Mumbai and highlighted the sentimental value that such family homes hold across generations.