New Delhi: Saif Ali Khan is not just an actor of relevance, he is also someone with a great business acumen. The megastar often leases his ancestral property, the Pataudi Palace, to film production houses. After having made an appearance in the Prim Video series 'Tandav' which Saif himself was a part of, and Julia Roberts starrer 'Eat Pray Love' and Aamir Khan's 'Rang De Basanti, the Pataudi Palace was most recently seen in the controversial Sandeep Reddy Vanga film 'Animal'.
Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the expansive lawns and hallway of the Pataudi Palace. The property came to the audience's attention during a scene in which a bloodied and shirtless Ranvijay-Ranbir's character walks the hallway. The same hallway was seen in a picture shared by Saif Ali Khan a few years ago.
The trophy and photo frames in the back seem to be intact in the film's scene as is the bureau on one side of the frame.
Another scene in the film has a striking resemblance to the Pataudi Palace's grounds. Last year, pictures from the Pataudi Palace as part of the set of the film were shared on social media.
For those unaware, the Pataudi Palace is valued at hundreds of crores. The heritage property was built in the 1930s by Saif's grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi. After the death of Saif's father and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan, the property was leased to a hotel chain.
In an interview with Mid-Day, Saif said that he did not inherit anything and had to buy the property back from the chain. "So, even the house I’m supposed to have inherited has been earned back through money from films. You can’t live off the past. At least we can’t in our family, because there was nothing. There is history, culture, beautiful photographs; and, of course, some land. It has been a privileged upbringing. But there’s been no inheritance."
Later, he clarified his statements in the Bollywood Bubble and said, "It wasn’t really re-buying, it was like clearing a lease."
Meanwhile, several members of the Khan family spend time at the Pataudi Palace from time to time.