Saif anointed 10th Nawab of Pataudi

The 41-year-old actor was made the Nawab at a “pagdi” ceremony this morning at the Ibrahim Palace here, where heads of 52 villages tied a white turban around his head as mother Sharmila Tagore, sisters Saba and Soha Ali looked on. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present during the ceremony.

Saif has been given the honorary title last held by his father, who died on September 22 following chronic lung infection.

Initially reluctant

Saif Ali Khan was initially reluctant to be anointed as the Nawab, a title no longer recognised by the government, but gave in to the tradition to honour the sentiments of the villagers. As the newly appointed Nawab, Saif will have to take care of his father’s estate, their ancestral home, eye hospital and other charitable institutions.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, whose mother was the daughter of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, was born in Bhopal and was the mutawalli (patron) of the Auqaf-e-Shahi, the body managing the religious and charitable endowments of the erstwhile princely state.

The legendary Indian cricketer, Mansoor Ali Khan Patudi took over from his mother as heir in the Bhopal royal family, allowing him to become the mutawalli of dozens of shrines, orphanages and religious trusts that are part of the princely waqf properties of Bhopal.