Soha Ali Khan Could Not Get Royal Designation Of A Princess Like Her Nawab Brother Saif, Here’s Why

Soha Ali Khan missed out on getting a royal designation like her brother, Saif Ali Khan. Read on to know more.

Actress Soha Ali Khan is the perfect example of beauty with brains. The youngest daughter of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore followed in her mom’s footsteps and ventured into films. She made her Bollywood debut with the film, Dil Maange More in 2004 and proved her acting mettle with films like Rang De Basanti, Tum Mile, Dil Kabaddi, Khoya Khoya Chand, and many more.

In 2009, Soha Ali Khan met actor, Kunal Kemmu on the sets of their film, Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge. The duo fell in love, lived together for some time, and eventually got married in their Mumbai residence in 2015. In 2017, Soha and Kunal hopped on to parenthood and welcomed a baby girl, whom they lovingly named Inaaya Naumi Kemmu. 

Why Soha Ali Khan could not become a princess?

Despite her royal lineage, Soha could not become a princess as she was born after the royal titles were abolished. In a conversation with Cyrus Broacha on the YouTube channel Housing.com, Soha stated that her grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan, was the Nawab of Pataudi, and her grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was the Begum of Bhopal.

Since Saif Ali Khan was born in 1970, he was named the Prince of Pataudi. At that time, Saif’s father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, received a privy purse from the Government of India, so he was allowed to use the title Nawab of Pataudi until 1971.

However, Soha Ali Khan was born in 1978, and by then, the royal titles were abolished. The actress, in her YouTube conversation, spoke about the same and revealed:

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“I was born after the privy purses and royal titles were abolished in 1970. My brother was born a prince, because he was born in 1970… With the titles comes a lot of responsibility and bills… My grandmother was the begum of Bhopal and my grandfather was the nawab of Pataudi.”

Saif Ali Khan was crowned as the tenth Nawab of Pataudi

After Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s death in 2011, a pagri ceremony was held in the village of Pataudi in Haryana. During the ceremony, Mansoor’s son and Soha’s brother, Saif Ali Khan, was crowned as the tenth Nawab of Pataudi. The ceremony was held for the sentiments of the villagers, who wanted to continue the tradition.

Pataudi family legacy

Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan’s grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan, was one of the greatest Indian cricketers. He captained the Indian national cricket team for the England tour in 1946 and played Test cricket for England from 1932 to 1934, making him the only cricketer to have played for both England and India.

In 1952, Iftikhar Ali Khan passed away after suffering a heart attack. After his demise, Mansoor Ali Khan succeeded in his father’s legacy and followed in his footsteps by becoming one of the most influential players in Indian cricket’s history. As Iftikhar was the 8th Nawab of Pataudi, his son took up royal duties and became the 9th Nawab.

Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan chose the glamour world. Their sister, Saba Ali Khan, is a jewellery designer by profession and the mutawalli (Chief Trustee) of the Auqaf-e-Shahi (Royal Trust), established by the princely state of Bhopal as a royal charitable endowment.