Saif Ali Khan had revealed a surprising truth about his inheritance. While he was born into the prestigious Pataudi lineage, the palace was no longer in the family’s possession after his father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, passed away.
After Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s death, the property was leased to Neemrana Hotels. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is the current owner of the grand Pataudi Palace in Haryana. Known for its regal charm and historical significance, this sprawling estate wasn’t simply handed down to Saif, it came with a hefty price tag. In a 2019 interview, Saif had revealed a surprising truth about his inheritance. Despite growing up amid luxury, Saif had clarified, “There was no inheritance.” While he was born into the prestigious Pataudi lineage, the palace was no longer in the family’s possession after his father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, passed away.
Shedding light on his journey to reclaim the palace, Saif recounted to Mid-Day, “People have a certain fixed notion. For that matter, even Pataudi Palace, when my father died, was rented to Neemrana Hotels. Aman Nath and Francis Wacziarg used to run the hotel. Francis passed away. He’d said that if I wanted the palace 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.”
For Saif, the idea of inheritance was far from conventional. “So even the house I’m supposed to have inherited has been earned back through money from films. 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,” he said.
Sprawling across 10 acres, the Pataudi Palace reportedly boasts over 150 rooms, including seven bedrooms, seven dressing rooms and seven billiard rooms. Its grandeur is matched only by its rich history. After Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s death, the property was leased to Neemrana Hotels, which operated it as a luxury retreat until 2014. Saif’s success in Bollywood enabled him to reclaim the palace, preserving its legacy for future generations.
Saif’s lineage is as illustrious as the palace itself. His father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was a legendary cricketer and his mother, Sharmila Tagore is a celebrated actor. Saif shares the family legacy with siblings Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan. He is married to Kareena Kapoor Khan, with whom he has two sons, Taimur and Jehangir. From his previous marriage to Amrita Singh, Saif has two children, Sara and Ibrahim.
Recently, Saif made headlines following a harrowing incident at his Bandra residence. An intruder entered his home with alleged intent to steal, resulting in a violent altercation. Saif suffered stab wounds to his thoracic spine and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for treatment. The actor was discharged on Tuesday and is recovering well.
