Growing up in the famous Pataudi–Tagore household wasn’t always about glamour. Soha Ali Khan has now revealed that her brother Saif Ali Khan was considered the family’s “rebel”, with their parents often using him as an example of what not to do. In a new interview, she reflected on their distant childhood bond, his wild energy, and the moment she first learned about Kareena Kapoor.
Childhood Gap Kept Them Apart
Soha explained why she and Saif were not close when they were younger. “I and Bhai are nine years apart, which is a lot. There wasn’t much of an overlap because when I was born, he went abroad for studies. When he came back, he started working in film, and I went to study in Oxford. After coming to Mumbai is when both of us actually started spending time together and became
much closer.”
She said he seemed almost like a stranger. “He was a mystery to me while growing up, because he used to study in Winchester and would only come home for the holidays, and he did whatever he wanted to do.”
Parents Worried He Was a Bad Influence
The actor remembered how her parents kept her away from Saif’s habits. “He was sort of a rebel as a child, and my parents used to take his example and tell us what not to do. The room that I had growing up actually was his room, but when he came over, I wasn’t allowed to sleep there, because he would often jump out the window at night and come back at unusual hours. He did a lot of things, and my parents didn’t let me sleep in that room because they thought I already looked like him, so I should at least not turn out like him.”
Still, she admitted his presence brought excitement. “I and my sister used to be very excited for him to come home, because he used to change the energy of the house. You never knew in what state he would turn up; sometimes he would have red hair, blonde hair, or long hair.”
When Saif Introduced Kareena
With time, the siblings grew closer. Soha also recalled the day Saif told her about Kareena Kapoor. “I just remember my brother calling me, and we were shooting something or other at that time. He said, ‘I wanted to let you know that my girlfriend is two years younger than you.’ I was like, ‘Okay, great!’ That was my introduction.”
She added that her bond with Kareena developed slowly. “Any relationship that has meaning to it requires time and nurturing.”
