30 April,2009 08:08 AM IST | | Upala KBR
Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, are presently in New York, shooting for Rensil D' Silva's film. They will finish the schedule in the next few days and the Chote Nawab plans to whisk away his beloved for a 10-day luxurious holiday in Italy's exclusive resort the 16th century Villa D'Este, on the shores of Lake Como in Cernobbio.
Celeb haunt
The villa has housed celebrities like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Greta Garbo, Gregory Peck, Clark Gable, Eddie Murphy, Liza Minelli, Sylvester Stallone and Bing Crosby amongst others. Alfred Hitchcock shot his first movie The Pleasure Garden here.
Take a break, darling!
Says a source close to the couple, "Kareena has not been keeping well so Saif decided it was time for her to take a break. He called their business manager Zahid and cancelled all her work commitments for the next two weeks.
Except for a brief Swiss holiday in Christmas, the actress has been busy with her films, shows and endorsements for a major part of the year. Kareena has also some big releases coming this year including Karan Johar's home productions directed by Rensil D'Silva and the one with Kajol and Raj Kumar Hirani's 3 Idiots."
Off to Florence
The source adds that Saif is making all the travel arrangements. It will be their first time in Florence. He zeroed in on Florence as he loves it's old world charm and magnificent architecture of its chapels and churches. Seeing Michelangelo's paintings in Florence is also a part of the itenary.
Super-expensive stay
The Prince of Pataudi is quite excited about their stay at the Villa d'Este. The source adds, "Although it is super-expensive, that was not an issue. Saif feels it's a well-deserved break and wants to make the trip special. Last time, he had booked an entire chalet in the Swiss Alps. Saif has made Bebo understand the importance of balancing her private and professional life. She won't be taking any phone calls during the holiday. It's all about fun."
It's private, folks
Kareena says, "Yes, it's true Saif and I are shortly leaving for our Italian holiday soon but it's private and I wouldn't like to divulge the details of our stay."
About the Villa d'Este
The Villa d'Este was built in 1509. From 1550 to 1572, when the villa was nearing completion, Cardinal d'Este created a palatial setting surrounded by a spectacular terraced garden in the late-Renaissance stmannerist style, which took full advantage of the dramatic slope but required innovations in bringing a sufficient water supply, which was employed in cascades, water tanks, troughs and pools, water jets and fountains, giochi d'acqua. The result is one of the series of great seicento villas with water-play structures in the hills surrounding the Roman Campagna.
