HT Brunch Cover Story: How to be a 21-year-old maharaja in the 21st century - Hindustan Times
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HT Brunch Cover Story: How to be a 21-year-old maharaja in the 21st century

Hindustan Times | ByPriya Kumari Rana
Nov 02, 2019 11:52 PM IST

Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur talks about marrying traditions with today

It’s hard to believe that the tall, lithe figure sitting on the gold-upholstered sofa in the opulent, Sukh Niwas in the City Palace of Jaipur, is just 21 years old. The 303rd descendant of the Kachhawas of Jaipur, His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur, clad in a white linen shirt, white trousers and Rajasthani mojaris, looks more like a Hollywood star than a royal. He’s gained celebrity status, thanks to being on the cover of GQ Spain, walking the ramp for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan, and accompanying Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava to the debutant ball Le Bal in Paris. Not to mention his collaborations with international fashion brands like Cifonelli and Ralph Lauren, his appearances in the New York Post and his inclusion in a list of jetsetting world royals on Instagram. All this is normal for Padmanabh Singh (Pacho to his friends), a globetrotting student of art history at one of Rome’s oldest universities.

Photos shot exclusively for HT Brunch at City Palace, Jaipur; Art direction by Amit Malik, On Padmanabh: Shirt, custom-made by the City Palace tailor(Prabhat Shetty)
Photos shot exclusively for HT Brunch at City Palace, Jaipur; Art direction by Amit Malik, On Padmanabh: Shirt, custom-made by the City Palace tailor(Prabhat Shetty)
His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur looks more like a Hollywood star than a royal (Prabhat Shetty )
His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur looks more like a Hollywood star than a royal (Prabhat Shetty )
Suit, custom-made by City Palace tailor; artisanal belt, from Mexico (Prabhat Shetty )
Suit, custom-made by City Palace tailor; artisanal belt, from Mexico (Prabhat Shetty )
“Historically, in Rajasthan, a maharaja was the ‘first among equals’, the leader of the clan; not a dictator!”
Padmanabh was anointed Maharaja of Jaipur at the age of 14 (Prabhat Shetty )
Padmanabh was anointed Maharaja of Jaipur at the age of 14 (Prabhat Shetty )
“I wouldn’t say women are the equals of men – I would say they’re much superior”
Jumper, Polo Ralph Lauren (Prabhat Shetty )
Jumper, Polo Ralph Lauren (Prabhat Shetty )
“I recently Airbnb’ed it in Barcelona; the experience of being hosted by locals was something money cannot buy!”
Over the last year, Padmanabh’s concept of a modern day maharaja has solidified (Prabhat Shetty )
Over the last year, Padmanabh’s concept of a modern day maharaja has solidified (Prabhat Shetty )
(Clockwise from top left) Padmanabh with Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava at the debutant ball Le Bal in Paris; Performing Ashwa Pooja during Dussehra in the palace; Playing for Cartier at the Cartier Concours d’Elegance 2019 in Jaipur; Walking the ramp for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan, 2018
(Clockwise from top left) Padmanabh with Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava at the debutant ball Le Bal in Paris; Performing Ashwa Pooja during Dussehra in the palace; Playing for Cartier at the Cartier Concours d’Elegance 2019 in Jaipur; Walking the ramp for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan, 2018
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