Before India gained independence, the subcontinent was home to over 500 princely states, each ruled by its own royalty. However, following the 1970s, business moguls and, in some cases, top film stars and cricketers began to take the place of traditional royalty in Indian society. Occasionally, the old and new forms of royalty overlap, as is the case with one actor who resides in one of the country’s most expensive properties.
The Indian actor with the priciest home
The homes of some of India’s biggest celebrities are considered tourist spots. Fans often gather outside the residences of Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat, Amitabh Bachchan’s Jalsa, or Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments. Given their status, it might be assumed that one of these stars owns the most expensive house in the industry. However, the honor goes to an ex-royal whose family estate, located over a thousand miles from Mumbai, has a far steeper price tag.
Reports suggest that Saif Ali Khan’s Pataudi Palace is valued at Rs 800 crore, far surpassing the cost of Mannat (Rs 200 crore) and Jalsa (Rs 100 crore). Other celebrity homes range between Rs 50-100 crore, making the Pataudi Palace’s value monumental by comparison.
The Pataudi palace
Also known as Ibrahim Kothi, the Pataudi Palace is located in the town of Pataudi, on the outskirts of Gurugram, Haryana. This estate was once the residence of the Nawabs of Pataudi, with Saif Ali Khan currently holding the nominal title. His father and grandfather were the titular Nawabs, and they governed their territory from this palace. The estate was built by Saif’s grandfather, former Indian cricketer Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, in the 1930s after marrying the Begum of Bhopal. He found his previous home unsuitable for his new wife, prompting him to commission British architect Robert Tor Russell to design a European-style mansion.
Saif frequently visits the palace with his wife Kareena Kapoor and their two children, Taimur and Jeh. His older children from his first marriage, actors Ibrahim and Sara Ali Khan, also enjoy vacations there. The palace is a frequent gathering spot for the extended family, including Saif’s mother, Sharmila Tagore, during special occasions such as birthdays and festivals.
The Pataudi palace in film
The Pataudi Palace was leased to Neemrana Hotels due to a debt owed by the late Mansoor Ali Khan, but Saif regained ownership of the palace in 2014 and renovated it. Since 2015, the palace has been rented for various TV shows, web series, and movies, including Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal. Saif himself stayed and worked at the palace while shooting for his Amazon Prime show Taandav in 2021. The Pataudi Palace now spans 10 acres and serves as the summer residence for the Pataudi family.