This one’s for the album! (From left) Soha, Ibrahim, Sharmila, Saif, Sara, Taimur and Kareena

Sharmila Tagore, Saif, Kareena, Sara, Ibrahim, Taimur and Soha minus Kunal Kemmu and Inaaya caught up over a picture-perfect dinner on Tuesday
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 30, 2019)

On Wednesday, Soha Ali Khan shared a picture with mum Sharmila, brother Saif with Sara and Ibrahim on either side, and Kareena cuddling Taimur which instantly went viral. It was clicked at Saif and Kareena’s Bandra home on Tuesday night.

When Mirror contacted Sharmila, she revealed that she was in Mumbai so all of them decided to meet over dinner and catch up. “Saif cooked for us; he made a lovely quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes and avocados, along with a mushroom and broccoli dish and roast chicken. Taimur was getting agitated so we wrapped up by 9.30-10 pm as get-togethers now depends on the kid’s schedule,” she laughed good-naturedly.

Pointing to the absentees she said son-in-law Kunal Kemmu wasn’t feeling well so he opted out at the last minute while Inaaya (Kunal and Soha’s daughter) had dozed off. “Saba is fasting and after breaking her roza she doesn’t like going out, so she stayed home,” she informed. On Wednesday afternoon, Saif visited his Tanhaji producer and co-actor Ajay Devgn at his Juhu home to offer his condolences. Ajay lost his father, Veeru Devgan, on Monday. Towards the evening, he headed to a cricket ground in Bandra where Ibrahim was practising and watched him play. The duo then exchanged notes about the game. It’s nice to see Saif playing the family man to perfection for real. 

Rinky Kumar (DNA; April 22, 2018)

Much is known about the Pataudi family, but in her first non-fiction work, Soha Ali Khan gives readers a rare insight into the kin’s history as well as her relationship with its various members. One of the heartwarming parts is the portion about her father, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, where she shares how despite being a star sportsman, he believed in leading a simple life. Soha tells After Hrs how she enjoyed her father’s company immensely, what was the inspiration behind her book, The Perils of Being Moderately Famous, and why it’s laced with humour.

How did you get the idea for the book?
A few people from Penguin India had approached me. I had toyed with the idea of writing a book. But I didn’t have the discipline to get it done. When this offer came, I thought this was the motivation that I needed. I always felt that if I would ever write, it would be a non-fiction piece as my memory is better than my imagination. I could rely on my family, my past, my travel, education, relationships and pregnancy and talk about all of this in a humorous way that would resonate with readers.

You had no qualms in admitting that you are moderately famous in a family of superstars. How difficult or easy was it for you pen it down?
I’m a practical person who doesn’t take herself or the world around her too seriously. So, it wasn’t difficult to write the book in such a tone. I don’t have qualms talking about myself, but there are certain things that I like to keep private, so I have a balanced perspective. However, it’s easier to do so with your friends and family, but when you are writing a book, you don’t know who will read it. After all, you are talking to strangers who don’t know too much about you. So, it was important to be honest and consistent, otherwise, it wouldn’t ring true with readers. A lot of it also comes from my father because he had a similar sense of humour. Moreover, I grew up in London where self-deprecating humour is native.

How do you deal with this aspect on a personal level?
On some days, it can be frustrating. When you are recognised by association and people refer to me as Saif Ali Khan’s sister, or Tiger Ali Khan Pataudi’s daughter or Taimur’s aunt, you can choose to laugh about it, which is what I mostly do, but there are occasions when I tell myself that I do have a name. These are things that I have learnt over time. Eventually, you get used to it and learn to embrace it as your identity. The fact is that I do come from a family where everyone is an overachiever, which has brought me more pluses than negatives, so I would never swap it with anything else in the world.

Were you apprehensive about what to share in the book because it touches upon different members of your family?
Yes, especially when it came to my father, who was an extremely private person. But I felt at the end of the day, this was my relationship with him. I was conscious that I shouldn’t write anything that he wouldn’t be comfortable sharing. I have rightly touched upon Bhai and Kareena (Kapoor Khan) in a funny way. It was difficult writing about my mother because my relationship with her is quite deep and complex.

It shows your father in a different light. You have highlighted how he was never lured by consumerist temptations…
I shared a good relationship with him and had a huge amount of respect for him. I’m happy that I put it down because after he passed away, these were the things that I was thinking about. We enjoyed each other’s company immensely. We went on holidays together. He would help me with my school debates, speeches (especially since he was a good orator), homework, and my visa application. I always thought he was the coolest person in the world and I was so lucky to be loved by someone who himself was loved by so many people.

What kind of a bond do you share with your elder sister Saba?
We are just two-and-a-half years apart. We shared the same room and same bed. We fought over toys, so my mom would give us the same presents. When we would get chocolates as return gifts from birthdays, I would eat all of them and she would hoard her share. Then, I would steal them and get in trouble. But we would always stand up for each other. Now, since all of us stay in Mumbai, we see each other all the time. She comes over quite often and babysits my daughter Inaaya. She reminisces how, when I was small, she would change my diaper and was like a second mother to me (smiles).

Sharmila Tagore on bringing up three children and coming to Mumbai more often now
Upala KBR (DNA; May 16, 2017)

Sharmila Tagore is candid and forthright while expressing her thoughts. The actress does very few films now and is happy to spend her time surrounded by family and friends. She shuttles between Delhi and her ancestral home in Pataudi. While son Saif recently became dad for the third time, her daughter Soha is now expecting her first baby. Here the actress talks about being a nani for the first time and the advice she has for her beti.

You became a daadi last year and will become a nani this year. How is it going to be different?
I don’t think there’s any difference as such in the family, but yes, it is a bit, as it’s my daughter now, who is giving birth. Kareena’s mum was more anxious when she was expecting as I am today when Soha is. It’s the mother-daughter bond. I think it’s quite a big decision for women to have children. In our time, I don’t think we thought so much about it. We just went and had them and of course, life is not fun-filled and not complete if you don’t have them. It’s a wonderful thing when you think about it. I felt so much closer to my mother after I had babies. It bonds a mother and daughter more.

Do you give Soha any advice on motherhood?
Of course I do, as all mothers would. Like my mother used to do when I was carrying Saif. I remember when Saif was a baby, the pediatrician had recommended that we give him orange juice to drink, but my mother said he was too​ small to be able to digest it and that I should dilute it with some water. I didn’t listen and Saif had a tummy-ache. I guess mothers do sometimes know best and it’s also the experience that counts. Yes, Soha does call me to ask for advice on what to do and I do advise her, but I also tell her to follow it up only after checking with the physician.

What stops you from moving back to Mumbai, where all of your kids live now?
Now that Soha is expecting, I will be coming to Mumbai more often. I like to come here, but I have my own life in Pataudi and Delhi. My responsibilities include looking after Pataudi. The palace needs maintenance and so, I need to be there for it. And I love meeting my friends whenever I can. But yes, I would love to come to Mumbai more often. Taimur is also growing up and I would like to spend more time with him too.

Soha is now expecting her first baby, do you recall the time you were expecting Saif?
I wasn’t there as much for Saif as I was for Soha and Saba as I wasn’t working so much then. I was very busy during Saif’s time and when he was growing up. I was doing double shifts, but I did have the support of my husband and also my neighbour Sunita Goswami, who also happened to be teaching at Saif’s Bohri-run school Saifee Mahal, which was a wonderful school run by Mrs Noorani. She was Saif’s second mother and she and her husband Jatin looked after him a lot. I was there for all his milestones, but I really wasn’t there for his day-to-day work.

And for Saba and Soha?
When the girls were born, I was less busy.

Between Saif, Saba and Soha, who shares your personality traits the most?
I think Saif does, Soha is more like her dad Tiger and Saba is a mixture of both of us. Saif and I are little bit more impulsive and less practical. He likes his freedom. As a child, he was more mischievous, Soha was more studious and practical, while Saba is the most creative one.

In your time, was Mother’s Day as big an occasion as it is today?
In my time, Mother’s Day wasn’t celebrated the way it is now. In fact, there used to be no Mother’s Day for a long time. After I became a mother, we’d have the traditional celebrations, where the mother or parents had to be honoured, though we didn’t have an English name for it. It was a part of every ritual that you had to follow with your family.

MUMBAI MIRROR (January 26, 2015)

Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu made it official with a private ceremony at their Khar home on Sunday morning as members of their starry family cheered them on. The bride and groom chose a simple registry over a big fat Indian wedding and then stepped out in their finery to make their first appearance as man and wife.

The Pataudi khandaan joined the newlyweds and Sharmila Tagore, Saba Ali Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor created a perfect Kodak moment.While Nawab Saif and his begum colour co-ordinated in shades of pink, the bride and groom were resplendent in golden ensembles.

The actress had earlier explained her decision to wed in a simple ceremony, telling Mirror (January 22), "I was never one to dream about the day since I was a young girl. I am more interested in the marriage than the wedding."