Happy Birthday, Saif Ali Khan: Why Star’s Children Cannot Reportedly Inherit His Pataudi Palace

Handsome hunk, Nawab and exceptionally talented actor – these words are synonymous with Bollywood star, Saif Ali Khan. On August 16, the actor rang in his 54th birthday. His family and fans have been pouring out their love for the actor. Saif Ali Khan is the 10th Nawab of Pataudi, a title he inherited from his late cricketer father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. While he is one of the richest celebrities in India, he also owns the Pataudi Palace and an ancestral home in Bhopal. Generally, properties or assets are inherited by the children. In his case, all his four children from two separate marriages cannot stake claim to the Pataudi Palace. Do you know why?

Reportedly, Saif Ali Khan has two ancestral properties, including the famous Pataudi Palace, items which belong to the Pataudi Palace, and an ancestral home in Bhopal. The entire amount of both the properties and everything that belongs in the Pataudi Palace costs Rs 5,000 crore. The actor cannot divide his property among his four children – Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan.

As per reportedly, Saif Ali Khan’s House of Pataudi falls under the Enemy Dispute Act, 1968 of the Government of India. Reportedly, nobody can claim the right over these properties and hence cannot be inherited. In fact, all the items in the luxurious palace come under this act. As per the act, all the immovable assets of those who went to Pakistan after the partition and took citizenship have been declared as Enemy Dispute Property. A person can go to the High Court, Supreme Court or President of India to claim the property, but it would be quite challenging.

Saif Ali Khan’s great-grandfather, Hamidullah Khan was the Nawab under British Rule, but he never made a will of his properties. Hence, the inheritance of the property can be met with contention within the family, especially from Saif Ali Khan’s grand-aunt residing in Pakistan.

In Anupam Gupta’s podcast, Paisa Vaisa, Saif Ali Khan’s mother, Sharmila Tagore revealed that they did not make a will for their children. She said, “In Islam, we are not allowed to make a will so you have to think about that. You can give it to non-heirs, but you cannot give it to your heirs… 25%, 50% like that. So that needs to be very well understood.”