Saif Ali Khan’s sister, Saba Pataudi, has spoken about growing up in an Islamic household, revealing that their mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, converted to Islam after marrying Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Saba recalled that Sharmila introduced her children to the faith to give them “some sort of grounding”, adding that there was no temple or practice of Hinduism in their home.
At the same time, Saba stressed that religion was never imposed on her or her siblings. She said the family celebrated festivals including Christmas, Diwali and Holi. She also pointed out that both Saif and Soha Ali Khan are in interfaith marriages, meaning that no one in the family follows religious practices particularly strictly.
Speaking to the YouTube channel Big Bollywood Buffs, Saba said that she considers Islam her religion and feels connected to it spiritually. She added that if she were to think of God, she would refer to Allah, while making it clear that this does not mean she disrespects other religions.
Saba explained that when her parents married, Sharmila converted to Islam and subsequently taught her children about the faith. According to Saba, this was done so that they would have a sense of direction and not feel confused about their religious identity. She reiterated that there was no Hindu religious practice in their household.
She credited Sharmila with introducing her to Islam and teaching her about concepts such as Ramadan. However, Saba said her parents ultimately left the decision of what to believe and practise to their children, emphasising that religion was never forced upon them.
She also described the family's current approach to faith as personal. Since her siblings are in interfaith marriages, she said she does not think anyone follows religion particularly strictly. According to Saba, faith is an individual matter and cannot be imposed on another person.
The jewellery designer added that growing up, the family celebrated Christmas, Diwali, Holi and other festivals. She said her parents never insisted that their children follow one particular religion and felt that this was an appropriate approach for parents to take.
Saif Ali Khan on religion at home
Saba's comments come after Saif Ali Khan spoke about how he discusses religion with his sons, Taimur and Jehangir.
At the London edition of We The Women, Saif said he enjoys conversations about faith with his children. Describing himself as not particularly religious, he recalled that his mother taught him that there is one God with many names, a principle he has also passed on to his children.
Saif also spoke about his experiences growing up around Christian institutions, including churches and schools where the day began with chapel. He recalled jokingly trying to avoid chapel by claiming that he belonged to another religion, only for the school to bring in a maulvi to speak to the students.
His upbringing also involved exposure to prayers from different faiths, and he recalled that Christmas was celebrated alongside Diwali. Saif said his approach to religion has always been intuitive.
He also shared an exchange with his nine-year-old son Taimur, whom he asked about the difference between religion and methodology. Taimur responded that in religion people pray, whereas in methodology they do not. Saif described the answer as a good one and said conversations about such subjects are ongoing in their family.
He added that his mother had an open approach to religion and that his wife, Kareena Kapoor, follows a similarly spiritual outlook.
History of interfaith marriages
Saif is the son of former cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore, whose marriage was interfaith. Saif himself has also had two interfaith marriages — first with actor Amrita Singh, whom he divorced in 2004, and later with Kareena Kapoor, whom he married in 2012.
Last year, Saif's younger sister Soha Ali Khan spoke about the criticism she and her husband, actor Kunal Kemmu, faced over their interfaith marriage. In a conversation with podcaster Nayandeep Rakshit, Soha recalled seeing references to issues such as “Love Jihad” and “Ghar Wapsi”, along with comments suggesting that one community had taken someone from another.
Sharmila Tagore had previously discussed her conversion on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal. She said she converted to Islam and was given the name Ayesha before marrying Mansoor Ali Khan. She recalled that the process required her to confront and understand the decision seriously, adding that although she had not been particularly religious earlier, the experience led her to learn more about both Hinduism and Islam.
Kareena Kapoor Khan has also spoken about her marriage to Saif. At The Express Adda three years ago, she said excessive attention had been given to their interfaith relationship and age difference, while emphasising that the most important thing was that the couple enjoyed each other's company.
About Saba Pataudi
Born on May 1, 1976, Saba Pataudi is 50 years old. Unlike her actor mother and siblings, she did not enter the film industry and instead works as a jewellery designer. Her Instagram bio also describes her as a tarot reader and spiritual healer. She is additionally the Chief Custodian of the Royal Endowment Trust in Bhopal.
