Saba Pataudi, despite maintaining a largely private life away from the glitz of the Bollywood film industry, frequently offers her followers intimate glimpses into her family life through social media. In a recent interview, she reflected on her formative years alongside her prominent siblings, Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, and shared her heartfelt impressions of her sister-in-law, Kareena Kapoor. Her recollections painted a vivid picture of their close-knit family, encompassing everything from humorous childhood escapades involving Saif “borrowing” her clothes to the enduring support they consistently provide one another.
Recalling her upbringing with Saif, Saba fondly described his playful antics, particularly one memorable incident concerning her favorite T-shirt. She recounted, “We spent a lot of time growing up. At some point, he pinched my T-shirt instead of my sister. He was raiding my cupboard, and I was asking my mother, ‘I can’t find my favourite Benetton blue shirt.’ And she said, ‘No wonder Saif is wearing this tight blue T-shirt everywhere.’” Another amusing anecdote involved Saif playfully taking money from her wallet, only to return it later, humorously labeling it as “Rakhi money.” These formative experiences, while creating some early distance as they pursued separate academic paths, cemented a bond filled with laughter and sibling mischief. As Saif embarked on his successful career in the film industry and later became a father to Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan, their individual lives naturally became more demanding, leading to less frequent shared time.
Despite the diverging paths their adult lives took, Saba emphasized the steadfast support system that remains at the core of their family. She highlighted their individual autonomy while underscoring their unwavering presence for one another in times of need. “We are there for each other all the time as a family, and at the same time, each one of us is quite independent and has our own space. It’s a good balance. I can count on him when there is a crisis. I know that Soha and Saif have my back, and I have theirs. It’s a given. I don’t doubt that.” Saba also expressed immense pride in Saif’s professional dedication, stating, “As a sister, I am so proud of him. He works tremendously hard. He believes in his work, and in anything he does, he gives it his 100%. He is a natural.”
While playfully teasing Soha about some of her past film choices, Saba was unequivocal in her praise for Saif’s acting prowess. “I joke with Soha, saying that actually, he is talented. She has had some very good films too, but not all. Some of them were like, ‘What were you thinking?’ But bhai is talented. He is a complete natural and is meant to be in cinema. He is a very good father and brother. He does his best.” Beyond his acting skills, Saba finds Saif to be incredibly inspiring, particularly due to his innate personality and unique upbringing. “He is very inspiring. He is witty and well-read. He studied in London, and then there was the upbringing. We are not just an Indian family. The exposure brings a very different kind of upbringing. Our parents would never read letters that were addressed to us. We had our privacy. We were trusted to do what was correct. We were given a deadline, and we had to stick with it.”
Saba also spoke with great affection about Kareena Kapoor, admiring her confidence, honesty, and grounded approach to both her career and public image. “Kareena is not dramatic. She is entertaining. She is very good at her job. She is fantastic. She knows exactly what she wants to do. And what I love about her is that she owns who she is. So when somebody else, like the media, is pulling her leg and calling her anything that’s not exactly a compliment, she’s like, ‘So what?’ Somebody like that is very clear about who she is. That is commendable. I respect her a lot because I think who she is is what she is. She doesn’t pretend to be anyone else.” For Saba, Kareena’s straightforward and authentic personality is one of the qualities she values most in her sister-in-law.
Describing Kareena in more personal terms, Saba highlighted her thoughtful nature and the consistent support she has received over the years. “Kareena is very conscientious. She is very straightforward and she’s just very supportive. She has been very kind to me.” Saba’s observations offer a fascinating window into the dynamic within the Pataudi family, where individual aspirations and independence are harmoniously balanced with a profound sense of loyalty and mutual support.
