By Sashni Pather

A Cape Town businessman and Bollywood film co-ordinator plans to turn the luxury home of slain entertainer Taliep Petersen into a bed-and-breakfast establishment.

Ebrahim Kaskar, who co-ordinated the shoots of movies like Shakalaka Boom Boom, Andaz and No Entry, bought the Athlone house — which has five bedrooms and two recording studios — for R1.8-million on auction this week.

“The offer is still subject to confirmation, but I am certain that no one will offer a better price. I wanted to acquire this property as a business venture and am still looking at possibilities for it,” he said.

In 2006, Kaskar was involved in a legal spat with Bollywood producer Suneel Darshan, who accused him of overcharging him by more than R1-million for the shoot of Shakalaka Boom Boom. It was settled out of court.

Kaskar, who has hosted stars like Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Sunil Shetty at his Shalimar Gardens hotel, said he would consider entertaining Bollywood heavyweights in Petersen’s former home once the media hype around the murder trial had settled down.

He said he was not daunted by the fact that the musician had been murdered there.

“I will not be living in it. I have a beautiful home in Athlone. The way I see it is if I didn’t buy it, someone else would have.”

Source: Sunday Times