Saif Ali Khan is the nawab of Pataudi, and he is the only one, who has the princely tag, as by the time his other siblings were born, the princely tags were stopped by the then-governement of India. Saif Ali Khan followed in his mother, Sharmila Tagore's legacy and entered the film industry. He left a strong footing in the world of Hindi cinema with his work and established himself as the fourth Khan.
However, many think that Saif Ali Khan owns generational wealth with a princely tag and a palace in which to live and spend his holidays with his family. While he is the son of the late Mansoor Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore, the actor had to work hard to get back his heritage.
It was in the early 2000s when the Pataudi Palace was transformed into a heritage hotel chain. It was in 2005 when the palace started operating as a luxury hotel and offered a taste of the royal Pataudi family's life. The exquisite location made it a perfect pick for destination weddings, film shoots and high-profile parties. The hotel was operated from the Pataudi Palace till 2014.
It was in 2011 when Saif Ali Khan faced a major blow in his personal life after the demise of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the 10th Nawab of Pataudi. After his passing, Saif took immediate steps to regain the family's ancestral home. Despite Saif Ali Khan being the heir of the palace, Saif found out that the property was leased under a financial settlement arrangement to repossess it.
In an interview with the Mid-Day, Saif revealed that when his father passed away, the palace was rented to Naamrana Hotels. Aman Nath and Francis Wacziarg used to run the hotel there, but when the latter passed away. Aman Nath asked him if Saif wanted to get back to the palace, and demanded a lot of money. Saif was quoted as saying:
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"People have a certain fixed notion. For that matter, even [with] Pataudi [palace], when my father died, it got 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."
Saif, who was determined to restore the palace for the family, negotiated with Neemrana Hotel, as the property was valued at approximately Rs. 800 crore. Saif Ali Khan used his earnings from his acting career to get back his inherited palace. For Saif and his family, the palace is more than just a family home, it is the legacy and personal achievements with which they retained it. Saif, along with his wife, Kareena and kids, Taimur and Jeh often visit the palace, while his mother, Sharmila Tagore, takes care of it and maintains its historical charm.
Earlier, in an interview with India Today Conclave, Saif revealed that his late father, who was born a nawab, lived life on his own terms. However, when he made the decision of renting the home and turn it into a hotel, his grandmother was against it as it had a lot of history.
Saif Ali Khan is the sole owner of the Palace, and his sisters, Saba and Soha, don't share any ownership. Saif revealed that his grandparents and father are buried there, and it is his family home.
Well, Saif Ali Khan is a true King who knows how to keep his family legacy intact!
Next Read: Soha Shares Sharmila Tagore Keeps 'Hisab' Of Pataudi Palace, Saif Does THIS To Save Maintenance Cost
