Celebrated British author Jeffrey Archer died at his home on October 5, 2026, aged 86. Soha Ali Khan remembered his long friendship with her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, from their Oxford days. She said, "Jeffrey Archer was a friend of my father's from their Oxford days." He also wrote about him.
Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86. Following his passing, Soha Ali Khan remembered the late author's decades-long friendship with her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, from their Oxford days, recalling how Archer wrote about and honoured her beloved 'Abba'.
Jeffrey Archer, the celebrated British author and one of the world's bestselling writers, died peacefully at his home on October 5, 2026, aged 86. Following his death, Soha Ali Khan remembered the special bond he shared with her father, former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Taking to social media, Soha recalled that Archer was her father's friend from their Oxford days and had written about him in A Quiver Full of Arrows. She also remembered how beautifully he wrote about Pataudi after his passing. Years later, Archer returned to the family's circle, serving as auctioneer at an evening held in Pataudi's memory.
Jeffrey Archer's special bond with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
Following Jeffrey Archer's death, Soha Ali Khan remembered the late author's longstanding connection with her father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. She revealed that Archer and Pataudi had known each other since their days at Oxford. Soha wrote, "Jeffrey Archer was a friend of my father's from their Oxford days." Their friendship continued over the years, with Archer also documenting aspects of Pataudi's life through his writing.
Soha recalled how Archer featured her father in his work, writing, "He wrote about Abba in A Quiver Full of Arrows." She also remembered how the author paid tribute to Pataudi following his death. The actor added, "[He] wrote so beautifully about him after he passed." Her words highlighted the personal connection Archer shared with the Pataudi family beyond their early Oxford friendship.
The connection between Archer and Pataudi's family continued years after the former cricketer's passing. Soha recalled another memorable occasion when Archer became part of an event held in her father's memory. She wrote, "Years later held the auctioneer's hammer at an evening we hosted in Abba's memory." Remembering the late author, Soha concluded her tribute with a heartfelt message: "May he rest in peace."
Jeffrey Archer and Bollywood
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Archer's relationship with Bollywood was complicated. In 2015, he alleged that Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl and Khudgarz drew heavily from his novels Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and Kane & Abel. While neither film was officially credited as an adaptation, Archer publicly maintained that the similarities were too close to be coincidental.
Ironically, India later became the home of an official Archer adaptation deal. In 2025, Applause Entertainment acquired screen rights to six of his works, including The Clifton Chronicles, Fourth Estate and First Among Equals, marking a formal collaboration between the bestselling author and Indian entertainment.