Amitabh Bachchan's Real Estate Sale: A Case Study in Investment Mistakes
Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan recently sold two luxury apartments in Mumbai’s Goregaon East for Rs 12 crore, drawing attention from finance enthusiasts. While the sale appears profitable on paper, experts argue that the returns are underwhelming compared to other investment options like equities.
According to property registration data accessed by CRE Matrix from the Maharashtra Department of Registration & Stamps, Bachchan sold the two units, located in Oberoi Realty’s Oberoi Exquisite complex, for Rs 6 crore each. The veteran actor had purchased both flats in 2012 for Rs 8.12 crore, including four parking spaces. After holding the properties for 13 years, the deal fetched him a 47% total gain, translating to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 3%.
‘Big B needs a new financial advisor’
While the sale may seem impressive at first glance, chartered accountant and financial educator Nitin Kaushik offered a blunt financial assessment on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “Big B made a move that any average investor could’ve done better at, and I’ll prove it with numbers.”
Breaking down the math, Kaushik explained: “That’s roughly 3% CAGR in one of India’s most expensive real estate markets. That’s not investing. That’s inflation losing its patience.” He added that if Bachchan had instead invested the same Rs 8 crore in a balanced equity portfolio — 50% large caps, 30% mid caps, and 20% small caps — it could have grown to about Rs 27.6 crore over the same period, assuming an 11% CAGR.
“That’s a Rs 15 crore opportunity cost,” Kaushik wrote. “Not a loss, just the price of choosing comfort over compounding.”
The emotional pull of real estate
Kaushik’s post struck a chord online, sparking a wider discussion about India’s deep-rooted love for real estate. “Property feels safe. You can touch it, live in it, and show it off,” he wrote. “But here’s the truth — real estate gives emotional returns, while equities give financial returns.”
He also noted that property appreciation in metros like Mumbai and Delhi has slowed significantly since 2015, offering average returns of only 3–5% CAGR — barely keeping pace with inflation. In contrast, long-term investments through equity SIPs have delivered much higher returns.
Kaushik concluded with a line that resonated across financial circles: “You can choose to look rich or actually get rich — the difference is where your money sleeps. And compounding, my friend, never sleeps.”
Bachchan family’s real estate investment
The Bachchan family has been pretty active in the property market. In January 2025, Amitabh sold a 5,185 sq. ft. duplex at The Atlantis in Andheri for Rs 83 crore and later purchased his fourth property in Ayodhya for Rs 40 crore. He also invested Rs 10 crore each in a real estate venture owned by producer Anand Pandit.
In 2024, Amitabh and Abhishek jointly acquired 10 apartments in Mulund West for Rs 25 crore. As per Jaya Bachchan’s Rajya Sabha affidavit, the family’s total assets are valued at Rs 1,578 crore.
