Saif Ali Khan’s Pataudi Palace, also known as Ibrahim Kothi, is more than an ancestral residence of the Pataudi family. The sprawling property in Pataudi town of Gurgaon district in Haryana has long attracted filmmakers looking for an old-world, grand yet beautiful backdrop. From Veer Zaara and Rang De Basanti and the more recent Animal, you’ll be surprised to know several films have been shot at the palace!

Veer Zaara (2004)
In Veer Zaara, Pataudi Palace became Zaara Hayat Khan’s family home in Pakistan, giving the Yash Chopra romance its unmistakable regal backdrop. Several sequences were filmed at the property, including the song ‘Main Yahaan Hoon.’ The palace’s grand façade and gardens are particularly visible in scenes featuring Preity Zinta’s Zaara.

Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005)
Aamir Khan’s historical drama is another film that used the Pataudi Palace as a shooting location. The palace’s period architecture naturally suited the film’s 19th-century setting and lavish visual scale.

Rang De Basanti (2006)
Aamir Khan starrer Rang De Basanti was also shot at the Pataudi Palace. Only a brief portion of the film was shot at the palace, rather than the property serving as a major recurring location. A scene showing Anupam Kher’s conversation with Siddharth was filmed at Saif Ali Khan’s mansion.

Gandhi, My Father (2007)
Akshaye Khanna starrer Gandhi, My Father is another film that used the Pataudi Palace as a backdrop. The 2007 biographical drama explores the troubled relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his eldest son, Harilal Gandhi. The palace was among the locations used for the film, adding its distinctive period setting to selected sequences.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
The Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif rom-com had an early shooting schedule in Pataudi, including scenes at the palace. The grand colonial-style architecture and sprawling lawns of the palace served as a picturesque backdrop for multiple scenes in the movie.

Tandav (2021)
Saif Ali Khan’s political thriller series Tandav was also filmed at Pataudi Palace. While Pataudi Palace has featured in several films and shows over the years, Saif Ali Khan has admitted that he is still a little nervous about letting crews shoot there. Speaking to Mid-Day once, he said the palace remains unused for much of the year, so he doesn’t mind giving it out for shoots occasionally, although the idea still makes him nervous.

Animal (2023)
Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor starrer Animal brought Pataudi Palace back into the spotlight in a big way. The property doubles as the Singh family’s lavish home in the film, making its distinctive façade, interiors and grounds instantly recognisable.