Soha Ali Khan: Difficult to maintain nawabi lifestyle in modern world

Soha Ali Khan was recently in Lucknow, and the actor, who's from the erstwhile royal family of Pataudi, spoke about a 'nawabi lifestyle' and its place in today's world. She's visited the city several times earlier as well, she told us while she was there, and is acquainted with Awadhi history and the nawabi culture for which Lucknow was once famous. "It is becoming very difficult for one to maintain that nawabi kind of lifestyle in this modern world.But still, when you come to a place like Lucknow, you find that people are still attached to that culture and take pride in it. When you see their love for their culture, clothes and most importantly, their language, toh dil apne aap khush ho jaata hai," says Soha, adding, "In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, you won't get to see that old culture now."

The Delhi-born actor also said she felt lucky to have visited Lucknow so often. "I've always enjoyed the idea of coming to Lucknow. As I was a history student, I know that the history of India is inextricable from the history of Lucknow," she says.
Adds Soha, "Be it the mutiny of 1857 or even later, Lucknow has been a major part of our war of independence." When asked what she likes best about Lucknow, Soha says, "There's still a lot of authenticity in Lucknow, whether in terms of food, fashion, culture or language. There is a pure form of everything which still exists over here. There’s a history attached to the nawabi culture. Ek zamaane mein nawabi khaandaan ka bahut shosha hota tha. I can connect with Lucknow and that’s why the city keeps calling me."
Moving on to the subject of her work in films, Soha says, "Mujhe bahut se aise roles offer hote hain that are of a princess or a queen or the girl-next-door type. But I would like to do a negative role, something out-of-the-box, because it gets very boring playing royalty on screen each time (laughs)."
Soha Ali Khan
In the context of the numerous sports biopics in Bollywood, Soha feels that a biopic on her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, should also be attempted. "Itne saare cricketers pe biopics ban rahe hain, a biopic on my father will also make for an excellent film. His life has all the ingredients of a great movie," she says, adding, "I had planned to produce a film on my father, but then I realized that maybe I am too close to the subject. That’s why I want someone else to make it, because otherwise people will say ki beti ne baap ke upar film bana di."
--Adnaan Rizvi