Published 19:32 IST, October 1st 2019
Saif Ali Khan: Everything you need to know about his royal ancestry
Saif Ali Khan is the tenth Nawab of the Pataudi family. The actor, along with his two sisters Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan, enjoy a royal heritage.
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Saif Ali Khan was anointed as the 10th Nawab of Pataudi back in 2011. The actor was designated as the Nawab in a Pagdi ceremony in which heads from 52 villages tied a white turban around Saif's head. Saif was reluctant to be anointed but agreed to respect the sentiments of the villagers in the district. The title of Nawab is not recognized by the Indian government anymore. The title was last held by his father who passed away due to a chronic lung infection. His sisters Soha Ali khan and Saba Ali Khan were present during the ceremony along with mother Sharmila Tagore.
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Saif Ali Khan's Royal Ancestry
Saif belongs to the Pataudi family. The Pataudi family name originates from the former princely state of Pataudi. The first Nawab in Saif's family was Faiz Talab Khan, he was granted the state in 1804. Royal entitlements were banned in India through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi was the final ruler of Pataudi, and Saif's grandfather. He was a cricket player who interestingly played for the Indian and England cricket teams. Saif's father was also a cricket player for the Indian cricket team. He captained the cricket team at the age of 21 years, holding a world record for the youngest Indian cricket team captain until 2004.
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The ancestral Pataudi Palace
Saif Ali Khan's ancestral home, Pataudi Palace is also known as 'Ibrahim Kothi'. The estate spans across 10 acres and holds over 150 rooms including seven dressing rooms, bedrooms, billiard rooms and also includes luxurious drawing and dining rooms. The palace is designed in the style of colonial mansions by Robert Tor Russell. The palace currently belongs to the Nawab family after serving as part of the Neemrana chain of hotels from 2005 to 2014. The exquisite palace has been a shoot location for various films like Eat Pray Love, Mangal Pandey, Veer-Zaara, Lagaan and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.
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15:53 IST, October 1st 2019