While Saif Ali Khan owns the sprawling Pataudi Palace, his sister, actress Soha Ali Khan, owns what was once the hotel’s generator room – a space that was later converted into a two-bedroom apartment when the palace was leased out to a hotel chain.
Over the years, Soha has spoken about her family’s royal home, revealing how the “generator room” came to be her share of the estate, why she pays for its upkeep and how the family continues to maintain the nearly century-old palace.
In a Zoom chat, Soha had earlier explained that the room came into the hands of the family after the palace was rented out to a hotel chain.
“I have what was a generator room. But fortunately, for a short period of time, there was a hotel there that ran the Pataudi Palace. My parents moved into the generator room, turned it into what I think is a very nice property, and now it is mine.”
In another interview with Housing.com, she explained that the space was converted into a comfortable two-bedroom apartment because her parents needed a place to stay while Neemrana Hotels managed the palace.
“The palace was rented out to Neemrana Hotels and when that was done, my parents needed accommodation, so the generator room was converted into a very nice equivalent of a two-room house.”
Although the rest of the palace belongs to Saif Ali Khan, Soha said she is responsible for maintaining her part of the property.
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Why is Pataudi Palace whitewashed and not painted?
Despite being one of India’s most recognizable royal residences, the palace is maintained in a practical rather than extravagant manner.
In a conversation with Cyrus Broacha, Soha revealed that her mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, personally controls the property’s accounts.
“My mother sits with her hisaab kitaab, she knows the daily expenses and monthly expenses.”
She also explained why the palace was whitewashed and not painted.
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“For example, we whitewash Pataudi; they don’t paint it because it is much cheaper. And we haven’t bought anything new for a long time. What attracts us most is the architecture of this place; it’s not about things, not about objects.”
(Photo: Instagram/Soha Ali Khan)
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Has Saif Ali Khan bought Pataudi Palace back?
The palace remained in the ownership of the Pataudi family for decades before being leased out to Neemrana Hotels between 2005 and 2014.
Over the years, it has often been reported that Saif Ali Khan “bought back” the palace after the death of his father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
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However, Saif clarified that in fact the lease agreement had been terminated. Speaking to Mid-Day, Saif explained that although he had always been the owner, terminating the hotel’s lease required a significant financial settlement.
“Francis said if I wanted it back, I could let him know. I said, I want it back. They held a conference and said, okay, you have to give us a lot of money.”
He added, “Even the house that I was supposed to inherit was given back with money from films. You can’t live in the past. At least we can’t do that in our family.”
Later, elaborating on the reports, Saif explained: “My father rented it out and Francis and Aman, who ran the hotel there, took good care of it. My mother has a cottage there and she was always very comfortable. It was a fair financial arrangement and, contrary to reports, I didn’t have to buy it back because I already owned it.”
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After the death of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in 2011, Saif ended the lease and today the palace again serves as the family’s private residence and is also rented out from time to time for film shoots.
Saif Ali Khan at Pataudi Palace. (Photo: Express Archive)
The fascinating history of Pataudi Palace
Pataudi Palace, also known as Ibrahim Koti, was commissioned by Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi and completed in 1935. Designed by the famous British architect Robert Thor Russell, who also designed Connaught Place in Delhi, the palace is spread over nearly 10 acres in Haryana and houses around 150 rooms.
Talking about its origins, Soha revealed that the palace itself was built as a gesture of love.
“My grandmother was the Begum of Bhopal and my grandfather was the Nawab of Pataudi; he loved her for many years, but he was not allowed to marry her. The Pataudi Palace was built to impress his father-in-law.”
She also revealed lesser-known details about its design.
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“If you go to Pataudi, you will see a lot of carpets there. He has run out of money for marble, so there is a lot of cement under the carpets.”
It’s more than a palace, it’s a home
The palace has featured in productions like Animal and Saif Ali Khan’s Tandav, but it remains much more than just a filming location for the family.
In an interview with SCREEN, Soha called Pataudi her sanctuary.
“The architecture, the landscapes, the gardens that my mother created, just visually, going there is relaxing. After the hustle and bustle, you just feel the uncertainty and competition of a city life like Mumbai, you just go there, take a deep breath and feel free in many ways.”
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She said the palace also keeps her in touch with her late father. “Somehow I feel closer to my father when I’m there. I go to his grave and spend time with him. It’s his home. So there’s that connection there, too.”
Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore at Pataudi Palace. (Photo: Instagram/Soha Ali Khan)
Saif expressed similar sentiments about maintaining the property.
Speaking to India Today, he recalled his grandmother’s advice to never turn the palace into a hotel because of its history, although his father felt that renting it out was necessary to adapt to changing times.
He also said the palace, where his grandparents and father are buried, is central to his family’s heritage. “My grandparents are buried there, my father is buried there. This is my family’s home… I want to restore this home with their spirit.”
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Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi married veteran actress Sharmila Tagore in 1968. The couple had three children – Saif Ali Khan, Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.