Saif Ali Khan Had To ‘Earn Back’ Pataudi Palace; Says ‘There’s Been No Inheritance’

Saif Ali Khan is fondly known as the Nawab of Pataudi for his privileged lineage of rulers of the former princely Pataudi State. Being a nawab has its own advantage. Saif Ali Khan, has a huge ancestral property in his name in Pataudi. It is said that his properties including Pataudi palace are valued around Rs 750 crore. Not everybody know that Saif had to earn back his Pataudi Palace with the money he earned through acting in movies.

The ‘Laal Kaptaan’ actor recently revealed that the Pataudi Palace was rented to a hotel chain post the death of his father Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. 

Opening up on how he paid a lot of money to earn back the Pataudi Palace, Saif told Mid-Day in an interview, “People have a certain fixed notion. For that matter, even with Pataudi palace, when my father Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi died, it got rented to Neemrana Hotels. Aman Nath and Francis used to run the hotel. Francis passed away. He’d said that if I wanted back, I could let him know. I said: ‘I want it back’. They held a conference, and said, ‘okay, you have to give us lots of money!’ Which I then consequently earned.”

Reasoning why he had to take back his ancestral palace, he said, “You can’t live off the past. At least we can’t in our family, because there was nothing. There is history, culture, beautiful photographs; and, of course, some land. It has been a privileged upbringing. But there’s been no inheritance.”

Saif and wife Kareena Kapoor, along with their son Taimur, often join Sharmila Tagore at the Pataudi Palace where they celebrate birthday, Christmas and other festivals in the company of other Bollywood celebs.  Julia Roberts starrer Eat Pray Love was shot at the Pataudi Palace. Also, did you also know that Mangal Pandey, Veer Zara, Gandhi: My father and Mere Brother ki Dulhan also used the grand Pataudi Palace as a shoot location.

Saif is all set to be seen in his first historical, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior in the character of Udau Bhan. Ajay Devgn released his character poster last month describing him as “Might that cut deeper than a sword...” Meanwhile, he has wrapped up the shooting of his next, Jawaani Jaaneman. It also stars Tabu, Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia Furniturewala and Kubbra Sait and is scheduled to hit theatres by the end of this month.