11 November,2014 08:15 AM IST | | Asira Tarannum
A part of the Pataudi Palace has been re-possessed by actor Saif Ali Khan from a private hospitality major that used to run it as a luxury heritage hotel
Saif Ali Khan
A part of the Pataudi Palace has been re-possessed by actor Saif Ali Khan from a private hospitality major that used to run it as a luxury heritage hotel.
Saif Ali Khan. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
His father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had leased it out to the hotel group but when he visited the place, he was not quite impressed with its upkeep. It was at this ancient structure that Saif was crowned the 10th Nawab of Pataudi in 2011. His wedding reception was also held there in October, 2012.
Now Saif has ended the lease agreement with the hotel and has started the renovation process.
Confirming the story, Sharmila Tagore says, "The lease period was over and we did not renew it. It is in the process of being cleaned up right now."
In the past, the palace has been rented out for multiple film shoots, one of the famous ones being the song Main Yahan Hoon from Veer-Zaara featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. Other films that were shot there include The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey, Raanjhana and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. It is located just 66 kilometers from Delhi.
Will the palace be open to visitors again after the renovation? Tagore says in a non-committal tone, "You will have to ask Saif. I don't know about it."
