Tanishaa Mukerji opens Shobna Samarth's Lonavala heritage home as homestay
Synopsis
Tanishaa Mukerji has turned her inherited Lonavala property — the original home of golden-era cinema legend Shobna Samarth — into a boutique homestay called Frangipani House, keeping every tree her grandmother planted intact. It is a rare glimpse into a family whose roots span nearly a century of Hindi cinema, from Shobna Samarth to Nutan to Kajol.
Key Takeaways
Tanishaa Mukerji has revealed Frangipani House , her late grandmother Shobna Samarth's home in Lonavala , as a reimagined boutique homestay.
The property is where both Tanishaa and her mother, actress Tanuja , spent their childhoods.
Tanishaa inherited the home and carried out a sensitive renovation, preserving all trees planted by Shobna Samarth .
Shobna Samarth was a celebrated actress of Hindi cinema's golden era, known for 'Ram Rajya' , 'Bharat Milap' , and 'Nal Damayanti' .
She was also the mother of Nutan and Tanuja , and grandmother of Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji .
Actress Tanishaa Mukerji has shared a video walkthrough of Frangipani House, the Lonavala property that once belonged to her grandmother, legendary Hindi cinema actress Shobna Samarth, announcing that the heritage home has been reimagined as a boutique homestay. The video, posted on her social media account, marks the first public reveal of the property that holds deep personal and cinematic history for one of Bollywood's most storied families.
A Family Legacy Preserved
In the video, Tanishaa is seen walking through the lush, tree-lined grounds dressed in a lavender saree, describing the emotional weight the property carries. Shobna Samarth's Lonavala home was where both Tanishaa and her mother, veteran actress Tanuja, spent significant parts of their childhoods.
Speaking in the video, Tanishaa said: 'Welcome to Frangipani House. This is a reimagined homestay of my legendary superstar grandmother Shobhana Samarth's original home, which I inherited. I have renovated and redesigned this space in the way that I think my grandmother would have wanted it to be. I didn't want to overdevelop it. I didn't want to cut down any of the trees that she planted. My entire childhood, and my mother's entire childhood, was spent on this very property. We have kept it authentic and real. I hope you will come and make some beautiful memories here.'
What Tanishaa Said About the Renovation
Alongside the video, Tanishaa wrote: 'The Frangipani House — home of my legendary superstar grandmother, Shobna Samarth. Every wall, each corner of this wonderful house has a story to tell. Man's greatest inspiration always comes from nature — my grandmother also believed in this and that's why she lived in Lonavala for most of her life, surrounded and immersed in nature. Come find that inspiration in Frangipani House — a reimagined homestay.'
Notably, Tanishaa emphasised that the trees planted by Shobna Samarth have been left untouched, and the renovation was guided by a desire to honour the original spirit of the home rather than modernise it beyond recognition.
Who Was Shobna Samarth
Shobna Samarth was one of the foremost actresses of Hindi cinema's golden era, celebrated for her performances in films including 'Ram Rajya', 'Bharat Milap', and 'Nal Damayanti'. She was the mother of veteran actress Tanuja and the late superstar Nutan, and the grandmother of actresses Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji — a lineage that spans nearly a century of Indian cinema.
The Broader Significance
The conversion of a celebrated film personality's private residence into a heritage homestay reflects a growing trend in India of preserving cultural properties through adaptive reuse. For admirers of classic Hindi cinema, Frangipani House offers a rare opportunity to experience a space intimately connected to the golden age of Bollywood. The property's location in Lonavala, a hill station long favoured by Mumbai's film fraternity, adds to its appeal.
With the homestay now open, Tanishaa appears to be positioning Frangipani House as both a living memorial to her grandmother's legacy and a destination for those seeking a connection with nature and cinematic history.
Point of View
Yet that history has never been commercially packaged until now. The decision to preserve the trees and resist overdevelopment signals an intentionality that separates this from the celebrity real-estate content that floods social media. Whether the homestay can sustain that restraint under commercial pressure will be worth watching.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frangipani House?
Frangipani House is a heritage homestay in Lonavala, converted from the original residence of legendary actress Shobna Samarth. The property was inherited by her granddaughter Tanishaa Mukerji, who renovated it while preserving its original trees and character.
Where is Frangipani House located?
Frangipani House is located in Lonavala, a hill station near Mumbai in Maharashtra. Shobna Samarth reportedly lived there for most of her life, drawn by its natural surroundings.
Who was Shobna Samarth?
Shobna Samarth was one of the most celebrated actresses of Hindi cinema's golden era, known for films such as 'Ram Rajya', 'Bharat Milap', and 'Nal Damayanti'. She was the mother of actresses Tanuja and Nutan, and the grandmother of Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji.
Why did Tanishaa Mukerji convert the home into a homestay?
Tanishaa has said she wanted to honour her grandmother's memory and share the property's legacy with others, while keeping the renovation faithful to how she believed Shobna Samarth would have wanted it. She specifically chose not to cut down any trees planted by her grandmother.
What is the connection between Shobna Samarth and Kajol?
Shobna Samarth was Kajol's maternal great-grandmother. The lineage runs from Shobna Samarth to her daughter Tanuja, and from Tanuja to her daughters Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji.
