Born in 1941, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (MAK) was a pioneering figure in India's rich cricketing heritage and was nicknamed, Tiger Pataudi. Despite of his tragic accident where he had lost his one eye, MAK remained the youngest Indian Test captain and second youngest International Test captain worldwide as of November 2015. Not only cricket, MAK was an all-rounder as he had teamed up with Christopher Snell to win the public schools rackets title, played hockey and billiards for Oxford and soccer as a mid-fielder. (Also Read: Ayushmann Khurrana Is All Hearts For His Cycling Date With Wife Tahira Kashyap As They Go For A Ride)
Do you know why Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was nicknamed as Tiger Pataudi? While his former cricket-mates had believed that MAK was called 'Tiger' because of his outstanding fielding skills, he, in his autobiography, had clarified that "I had a tigerish propensity for crawling energetically about the floor on all fours." Married to Sharmila Tagore, the couple got blessed with three children, Saif Ali Khan (1970), Saba Ali Khan (1976) and Soha Ali Khan (1978).
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International Tiger Day or Global Tiger Day is celebrated annually on July 29, 2020, to raise awareness for tiger conservation and the aim is to promote a system to protect natural tiger habitats and gain support in conservation issues. To mark International Tiger Day in her own special way, Soha Ali Khan posted a black-and-white picture of her abba, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who was also known as 'Tiger' and captioned it as "After all it is International Tiger Day!"
On April 30, 2020, veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor had taken his last breath after fighting leukaemia for two years. Rishi Kapoor’s niece, Kareena Kapoor Khan had treated her fans with a rare picture of him with her father-in-law, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and had captioned it, “Two tigers” followed by a heart emoji. Soha Ali Khan had posted the same picture and had written, "Somewhere over the rainbow." (Also Read: Mira Rajput Kapoor's Motherhood Life Makes Her Understand Childhood Story Of Goldilocks And 3 Bears)
When Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu and their daughter, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu had headed off to her ancestral home, Pataudi palace in November 2019, the actress had paid a visit to her abba, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s grave. Sharing a picture from the same with her daughter, Inaaya, Soha had written, “Wish you were here.” The inscription of the gravestone could be read as “Mohammad Mansoor Ali Khan, The Nawab of Pataudi 1941-2011 Love me when I am dead and do not let me die.”
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In a throwback interview with the DNA, Soha Ali Khan had thrown some light on the parts of her book, The Perils of Being Moderately Famous that focused on her abba, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Soha had elaborated, “I shared a good relationship with him and had a huge amount of respect for him. I’m happy that I put it down because after he passed away, these were the things that I was thinking about. We enjoyed each other’s company immensely. We went on holidays together. He would help me with my school debates, speeches (especially since he was a good orator), homework, and my visa application. I always thought he was the coolest person in the world and I was so lucky to be loved by someone who himself was loved by so many people.”
In 2018, Soha Ali Khan during the launch of her book, The Perils of Being Moderately Famous, had revealed how her abba, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi liked to speak in codes and why she wanted his story to be told. Soha had said, "I've always thought Abba's story should be told. Even when he was alive I would often ask him if he was going to write an autobiography. 'The truth can never be told,' he liked to say mysteriously, 'and I will not lie.' I soon gave up trying to figure out what he meant - he liked to speak in code - I suspect in order to deter conversation as much as possible, except for the very persistent. I did not persist then but after he passed away I have learnt so much more about him-from obituaries, personal stories, letters written to my mother from friends, colleagues and admirers. I have wallowed in those words of tribute and praise and felt privileged to be loved so dearly by one loved dearly by so many." (Also Read: Gauri Khan And Shah Rukh Khan's Throwback Picture With Her Mom, Savita Chibber Proves 'Old Is Gold')
On the professional front, Soha Ali Khan was last seen on the silver screen in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 and had become an author with her first book, The Perils of Being Moderately Famous in 2017.
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