Every family has its food traditions. But when you’re Kareena Kapoor Khan, married into one royal family and born into another, the dinner table reveals a tale of two legendary dynasties: one that relishes lauki, the other that devours pizza.
A Tale of Two Kitchens
In a candid
moment on a talk show, Kareena Kapoor Khan perfectly captured the delicious dichotomy between her two families. “The full Pataudi family… they get lauki cooked,” she revealed, referring to the simple bottle gourd. Then, with the signature flair of her own lineage, she added, “Hum paaya khaane wale hai yaar (We are people who eat mutton trotters)… I love my pizzas.” The contrast is stark and amusing: the Nawabs of Pataudi with their refined, health-conscious palate, and the boisterous Kapoor clan, whose love for food is as grand and legendary as their contribution to cinema.
The Kapoor Clan: A Feast of Flavours
The Kapoors’ passion for food is a well-documented saga. Originating from Peshawar, their culinary identity is rooted in rich, carnivorous fare. Kareena has often spoken about this, declaring herself a “proper desi Punjabi” when it comes to meals. In an interview, her father Randhir Kapoor confirmed, “We are basically carnivorous.” The family discussions often revolve around food, from planning the next meal during breakfast to debating the best restaurants. Kareena revealed that the one dish that truly unites the Kapoors is Paya, a rich mutton trotter curry. This love for hearty food extends to Chinese cuisine, chhole bhature, and biryani. As Kareena once proudly proclaimed, “I am a Kapoor, yaar.” Her own cravings often lean towards Punjabi and Sindhi specialties like kadhi chawal and aloo tuk, a nod to her mother Babita's heritage.
The Pataudi Palate: Royal and Refined
On the other side of the culinary spectrum are the Pataudis. Their approach to food, as described by Kareena, is “too healthy.” Saif Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi, prefers a more disciplined and simple diet. He has spoken about enjoying vegetarian lunches, often consisting of dal, sabzi, and a single roti. While he enjoys non-vegetarian dishes like tandoori chicken and tikka for dinner, his daily meals are remarkably spartan and lean towards home-cooked, clean food. This preference for simple, healthy eating is a family trait. Kareena noted that from her mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore to Saif's sisters, the entire Pataudi household shares an appreciation for simple dishes like lauki. Even when not strictly dieting, Saif's tastes are for less rich foods, favouring basic meals over elaborate royal spreads.
Kareena: The Bridge Between Two Worlds
Positioned perfectly between these two contrasting culinary worlds, Kareena navigates both with ease and humour. While her Kapoor genes make her a self-proclaimed foodie who loves her pizza and parathas, she has also embraced healthier habits. She has praised lauki as a “gut-friendly vegetable” with “superpowers” that she turns to when she needs to nourish her body. At home, she finds a balance. She might indulge her 'Punjabi swaad' for one meal, while respecting Saif’s preference for a lighter, vegetarian meal at other times. Interestingly, their children seem to be forging their own paths. While elder son Taimur reportedly follows his father's simpler eating habits, the younger, Jeh, appears to have inherited the Kapoor gene, enjoying parathas with white butter. This blend of traditions shows how Kareena's kitchen has become a melting pot, honouring both the Pataudi discipline and the Kapoor indulgence.
