MUMBAI: The Pakistani government, in its endeavour to pay tributes to Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, has decided to give a heritage status to their ancestral homes in the northwestern city of Peshawar, according to the provincial minister of the country.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the information minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, has reportedly said that both the actors were a "source of pride for our land" as they were born in Peshawar and steps would be taken to protect their homes in the famous Qissa Khwani Bazar.

The minister has directed the culture secretary to include the residences of both acting legends in the list of national heritage sites and to contact their current owners for their purchase. The minister said that the provincial government has decided to make documentaries and stage dramas on the life of these great artistes.

While Dilip Kumar was born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan at Mohalla Khudadad in Qissa Khwani Bazar on 11 December 1922, Raj Kapoor was born on 14 December 1924 in a town called Samandru in Peshawar.

Peshawar has had a strong connection with Bollywood since long. While Prem Nath and Vinod Khanna were born in Peshawar, director Surender Kapoor, father of Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor and Taj Mohammad, father of Shah Rukh Khan, owned houses in the city.