Saif Ali Khan’s grandfather went bankrupt trying to impress his father-in-law, he built Pataudi Palace with…, they previously lived in…

Saif Ali Khan, the 10th Nawab of Pataudi, is part of one of India’s most illustrious royal families. The Pataudi Palace, also known as ‘Ibrahim Kothi,’ is a symbol of their royal legacy, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the family’s past. However, a legal dispute is currently surrounding the family’s vast ancestral property, with reports suggesting that Saif’s father’s Rs. 15,000 crore property in Bhopal may be seized by the government, leaving no inheritance for anyone in the Khan family, including Saif. While Saif’s connection to this immense wealth remains uncertain, he is the rightful heir to Pataudi Palace, which is maintained by his mother, Sharmila Tagore. Interestingly, the palace was built by Saif’s grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan, who faced financial ruin during its construction, even resorting to carpets and cement in place of marble due to lack of funds.

Before the family moved into Pataudi Palace, they lived in Akbar Manzil, a historic residence built during the reign of Nawab Muhammad Akbar Ali, where the Pataudi family resided for several generations until 1941.

The first residence of the Pataudi family

The first residence of the Pataudi family, Akbar Manzil, is now in a dilapidated state. It was built during the reign of Nawab Muhamad Akbar Ali (1831–1862). Saif Ali Khan’s grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan, also lived here. The story of why Iftikhar Ali Khan had to move out of Akbar Manzil and build the Pataudi Palace was earlier shared by Saif’s sister, Soha Ali Khan.

This incident took place before the Second World War, when the Nawab of Bhopal rejected a marriage proposal for his daughter, Sajida Sultan, from the Pataudi family. The Nawab deemed the Akbar Manzil too small for his daughter. Iftikhar Ali Khan was deeply in love with Sajida, but the rejection was hard for him to bear.

The birth of Pataudi Palace

To impress his future father-in-law, Iftikhar decided to build the Pataudi Palace. However, this decision led to financial ruin. In an interview with Cyrus Broacha, Soha revealed that Iftikhar had been in love with their grandmother, the Begum of Bhopal, for years but was not allowed to marry her. To win over his future father-in-law, he built the Pataudi Palace, but in doing so, he lost all his money.

The palace, which was built in 1935, exhausted Iftikhar’s funds. He could not even afford marble for the palace, so he had to use carpets and cement underneath in some places. Even today, the Pataudi Palace is filled with carpets, which still hide the cemented floors beneath.

Ownership of Pataudi Palace

The Nawab of Bhopal, later, agreed to marry his daughter, Sajida Sultan, to Iftikhar Ali Khan. After their marriage, Sajida and Iftikhar became the parents of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and three daughters. Mansoor then married Sharmila Tagore, and they had two daughters, including Saif.

Saif Ali Khan inherited the ownership of Pataudi Palace. According to Soha, Iftikhar Ali Khan transferred the ownership of the palace to his son Mansoor Ali Khan. After Mansoor’s passing, the ownership of the palace passed on to Saif Ali Khan, and it remains with him to this day.