In the sultry backwater of a set, Kunal Kemmu’s bathrobe turned into an unlikely handshake—an opening act that would eventually tie two high‑profile families together. NEWPAR Soha Ali Khan, still on the cusp of motherhood, recalls how she avoided telling her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, straight away. Instead she leaned on her mother, Sharmila, to bridge the gap, a move that kept the family drama to a minimum. NEWPAR Sharmila’s first encounter with Kunal was a laugh‑laden exchange when he tried to turn on the gas in the kitchen. She’d almost cooked for him, only to realise she’d been handed a remote—an anecdote that turned into an instant bonding moment. NEWPAR The bathrobe scene itself was a low‑key showcase of Kunal’s understated charisma, a contrast to the glitz usually associated with Bollywood shoots. It was this understated charm that convinced Sharmila she could trust him with the family’s secrets. NEWPAR When the rumours of Kunal and Soha’s romance started swirling, the actor felt it was time to come clean. He told his father first, then his mother, a conversation that was casual yet charged with the gravity of breaking new ground in a tight‑knit family. NEWPAR That transparency didn’t just secure family approval; it paved the way for the two to co‑star in ‘99’, a role that would cement their on‑screen chemistry and off‑screen storyline.