Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Choosing a Different Path: The Quiet Life of Saba Pataudi
While the illustrious Pataudi family has long been synonymous with Indian cinema and cricket, Saba Pataudi has carved out a life far removed from the glare of the entertainment industry. Unlike her siblings, actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Saba chose a quieter path, building a career as a jewellery designer and custodian of her family’s royal legacy.
In a candid conversation with Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, Saba spoke openly about her decision to remain unmarried, revealing that although she was introduced to several prospective partners from a young age, she never found someone she considered truly compatible.
‘I Wasn’t Ready for Marriage’
Recalling her early years, Saba said marriage proposals began coming when she was just 18 or 19 years old.
“I did not have a first boyfriend. I was introduced to a lot of people for marriage from the age of 18 or 19, but I didn’t marry any of them. Though at 19, I almost did marry someone in Kolkata whom I had been introduced to. But that didn’t quite work out. I wasn’t really ready for it,” she said.
Although she remained open to the idea of marriage later in life, Saba said she never felt she had met the right life partner.
The Influence of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
Saba attributed much of her perspective on relationships to the values instilled by her father, the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most celebrated cricket captains.
“I just didn’t find anyone who was truly compatible. And after having a father like Abba, honestly, he was such a remarkable person. Not that you’re looking for someone exactly like your father, but your father is your father,” she said.
Describing him as charismatic, humble and responsible, Saba said her father also encouraged her to be independent and self-reliant.
She added that actor Taapsee Pannu’s oft-quoted remark—”I don’t need a boy, I need a man”—deeply resonated with her own outlook on relationships.
“He was so charismatic, humble, responsible, and he also taught me to be independent. There was something Taapsee Pannu once said: ‘I don’t need a boy, I need a man.’ I really resonated with that. And I just didn’t quite find that person,” she said.
A Life Beyond Bollywood
Born on May 1, 1976, Saba Pataudi is the second child of veteran actor Sharmila Tagore and former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
While her brother Saif Ali Khan and younger sister Soha Ali Khan established successful careers in Bollywood, Saba consciously chose to stay away from acting.
Instead, she pursued her passion for jewellery design and currently serves as the Chief Custodian of the Royal Endowment Trust, Bhopal, overseeing the family’s historic legacy. According to her social media profile, she is also a tarot reader and spiritual healer.
A Strong Bond With Family
Although she largely stays away from the public eye, Saba enjoys a significant following on social media, where she frequently shares nostalgic photographs and heartfelt tributes to her parents, siblings and extended family.
She is often seen accompanying her mother, Sharmila Tagore, at public events and family gatherings, offering fans occasional glimpses into one of India’s most celebrated families.
Embracing Independence
Saba’s candid reflections underline a deeply personal choice rather than one shaped by societal expectations. Her remarks highlight the importance she places on compatibility, mutual respect and emotional maturity over the conventional expectation of marriage.
By choosing to remain true to herself while pursuing her own interests and preserving her family’s heritage, Saba Pataudi has quietly created an identity distinct from the glamour of Bollywood—one rooted in independence, purpose and authenticity.
