This female Nawab shared close relationship with Saif Ali Khan, even Sharmila Tagore, Kareena Kapoor wore her…, her name was…

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has been in the news for various reasons. First, his ‘Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins’ trailer was unveiled on Monday(April 14) evening.  The trailer shows Saif as a “seedha saadha” “chor” who teamed up with Jaideep to steal the ultra-rare African Red Sun diamond. Secondly, in an unfortunate incident, Saif was attacked by an intruder in his 11th-floor Bandra flat in January.

Surprisingly, Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has a strong cricket connection — his father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was a legendary cricketer and one of India’s most iconic former cricket captains. However, very few people are aware of the love story of Saif’s grandfather, Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, and his wife, Sajida Sultan. Sajida Sultan was the younger daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal. After her father’s passing, Sajida became the Nawab Begum of Bhopal. Notably, Sajida Begum, the mother of late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan, married Iftikhar Ali Khan in 1939.

This female Nawab shared close relationship with Saif Ali Khan, even Sharmila Tagore, Kareena Kapoor wore her…, her name was…

Speaking of Sajida Sultan’s family, she was the second of four sisters. Additionally, she came from a distinguished royal lineage. Her elder sister, Abida Sultan, was renowned for her luxurious lifestyle. Sajida married Mohammad Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the 8th Nawab of Pataudi and a former captain of the Indian cricket team.

Following the passing of her father, Sajida was named the 12th Nawab Begum of Bhopal, a decision that upset Abida so deeply that she moved to Pakistan after the Partition. In a nod to royal tradition, Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor wore the same Bhopali bridal ensemble from the Pataudi family at her wedding to Saif that Sharmila Tagore had worn in 1962 during her wedding to Mansoor Ali Khan. In 1995, Sajida Sultan passed away, and her son, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, went on to serve as the Mutawalli of the Bhopal royal trust, Auqaf-e-Shahi.

As per the NDTV report, a rare wedding photo of Iftikhar Ali Khan and Sajida Sultan was taken by a female photographer during the traditional Salami ceremony — a custom in the Muslim community where women present gifts to the newlyweds. Due to the practice of purdah, the groom and his male friends weren’t allowed to enter the women’s section, and even male photographers were strictly prohibited. This marked the first time such a ceremony in the Muslim community was ever photographed. Notably, Iftikhar and Sajida are the paternal grandparents-in-law of Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor.

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