Sharmila Tagore: A Timeless Icon of Indian Cinema - Biography and Filmography!

Sharmila Tagore, a name synonymous with grace, talent, and a captivating screen presence, remains an enduring icon of Indian cinema. Her career, spanning decades, showcases a remarkable versatility, from poignant dramatic roles to lighthearted romantic comedies. This article delves into the fascinating biography and rich filmography of this celebrated actress, highlighting her significant contributions to Indian cinema.   

A Royal Beginning and a Cinematic Journey:

Born on December 8, 1944, in Hyderabad, Sharmila Tagore hails from a distinguished Bengali family. Her father was Gitendranath Tagore, a descendant of the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore. This lineage instilled in her a deep appreciation for arts and culture.   

Sharmila's foray into acting began at a young age. Legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray discovered her talent and cast her in his Bengali film Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) in 1959. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would see her conquer both Bengali and Hindi cinema.   

Breaking Barriers and Defining a Generation:

Sharmila transitioned to Hindi films in the early 1960s, making her debut with Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) opposite Shammi Kapoor. The film was a resounding success, establishing her as a charming and vivacious leading lady. Her pairing with Rajesh Khanna in a string of iconic films like Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970), Amar Prem (1972), and Daag (1973) created on-screen magic and cemented their status as one of the most beloved couples in Indian cinema.   

Sharmila was not afraid to experiment and take on challenging roles. Her performances in films like Anupama (1966), Devar (1966), Nayak (1966) (again with Satyajit Ray), and Chhoti Bahu (1971) showcased her depth as an actress, earning her critical acclaim and numerous accolades. She effortlessly portrayed both vulnerable and strong female characters, leaving an indelible mark on the audience.

A Bold and Modern Persona:

Beyond her acting prowess, Sharmila Tagore was also known for her progressive and modern outlook. Her bold photoshoot for a film magazine in the late 1960s, where she posed in a swimsuit, was considered unconventional for the time and sparked considerable discussion. However, she carried it with grace and confidence, further establishing her as a woman who defied societal norms.   

A Matriarch and Continued Presence:

In 1969, Sharmila Tagore married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi and a celebrated cricketer. Despite her marriage and motherhood, she continued to act in significant films, balancing her personal and professional life with remarkable poise. Their children, Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan, and Saba Ali Khan, have also carved their own paths in various fields.   

Even in her later years, Sharmila Tagore has remained connected to the film industry, appearing in films like Chupke Chupke (1975), Namkeen (1982), and more recently, Break Ke Baad (2010). She has also served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from 2004 to 2011, demonstrating her continued commitment to Indian cinema.   

Legacy and Enduring Appeal:

Sharmila Tagore's contribution to Indian cinema is immense. She brought a unique blend of elegance, talent, and intelligence to the screen. Her performances continue to resonate with audiences across generations. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including two National Film Awards and several Filmfare Awards, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the art form.   

Sharmila Tagore: A Select Filmography:

This is a glimpse into the extensive and impressive filmography of Sharmila Tagore, showcasing her versatility across genr

• • Nayak (1966)   
  • Devi (1960)   
  • Barnali (1963)   
  • An Evening in Paris (1967) (Though a Hindi film, it had significant Bengali dialogues and cultural nuances due to the director and cast)

• Hindi Films:

  • Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)  
  • Waqt (1965)  
  • Anupama (1966)  
  • Devar (1966)  
  • Sawan Ki Ghata (1966)  
  • An Evening in Paris (1967)  
  • Aamne Samne (1967)  
  • Humsaya (1968)   
  • Aradhana (1969)   
  • Satyakam (1969)   
  • Chhoti Bahu (1971)   
  • Safar (1970)   
  • Amar Prem (1972)   
  • Daag (1973)   
  • Avishkaar (1974)   
  • Mausam (1975)   
  • Chupke Chupke (1975)   
  • Besharam (1978)   
  • Dooriyan (1979)   
  • Namkeen (1982)   
  • Sunny (1984)   
  • Kaash (1987)
  • Mann (1999)   
  • Viruddh... Family Comes First (2005)   
  • Break Ke Baad (2010)   

Conclusion:

Sharmila Tagore's journey in Indian cinema is a testament to her talent, resilience, and grace. From her debut in Satyajit Ray's masterpiece to her memorable pairings and impactful solo performances in Hindi films, she has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. Her biography is an inspiring tale of a woman who balanced tradition with modernity, and her filmography is a treasure trove of cinematic gems that continue to entertain and inspire. Sharmila Tagore remains a timeless icon, her legacy etched in the golden history of Indian cinema. 

Sharmila Tagore's Unfiltered Thoughts on Ibrahim's "Nadaaniyan"!

Ibrahim Ali Khan, the son of Saif Ali Khan, debuted as an actor in Khushi Kapoor's romantic comedy Nadaaniyan. The film received a lot of internet criticism for the poor performances of its main actors. The well-known actress Sharmila Tagore officially admitted after Soha Ali Khan that her grandson "tried his best in the film" and that it was only "good enough."

Sharmila Tagore talked about her grandchildren, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan, who are carrying on the family's legacy and thriving in show business in an interview with a media outlet.

She disclosed, “Sara and Ibrahim are doing a wonderful job. Ibrahim’s film was not good, but he still looks very handsome. He has tried his best. These things shouldn’t really be said in front of everyone, but honestly, the picture isn’t great. Ultimately, the picture has to be good”.

Tagore also praised Sara Ali Khan for her dedication and promise, referring to her as a "good actress." She claimed the Metro In Dino star has a lot of talent and works hard. She said she was confident she would be able to do so too.

Soha asserts that anyone using social media to display their work must consider what other people think, or else they may decide not to read their remarks.

She said that in order to be open to some criticism, improve one's craft, and move on, one should occasionally read the comments as well. The actress revealed that some people take joy in the failure of others, adding that actresses are "easy targets."

Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, Mahima Chaudhary, and Jugal Hansraj played important parts in Shauna Gautam's film Nadaaniyan. Netflix released it.

After over twenty years, Tagore made a comeback to Bengali cinema with Puratwan. It is directed by Suman Ghosh and stars Indraneil Sengupta as the main character.

Sharmila Tagore feels that Taimur is more famous than her!

Sharmila Tagore with Kareena, Saif, Taimur Ali Khan and Babitaji

Sharmila Tagore with Taimur Ali Khan

Bollywood celebs Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan's son Taimur Ali Khan is one of the most famous star kids. The boy is often followed by the media wherever he goes.

Taimur's grandmother Sharmila Tagore opened up about Taimur Ali Khan lately talked about him at an event. As per a daily, she revealed, "He (Taimur Ali Khan) is more famous than I am."

I will do it when the time comes, reveals Sharmila Tagore!

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore has stayed away from the limelight for some time. She has always kept her private life under wraps. Tagore tells that she isn’t too fond of herself to write a biography.

During an interview with a leading magazine, she revealed, “I will do it when the time comes. I keep myself occupied with lots of things. So, I don’t know. Either it’ll be done posthumously or if I ever get down to it, I’ll write it.”

Speaking about the possibility of writing in the future, the actress revealed, ‘’I could [write a book]. I write my own speeches. But it takes a lot of time, it’s a discipline to sit down and write. I think about it and forget it. I don’t put it down. Every time I think [about the book], I lose the momentum and the time is gone. One should do it now, as one forgets a lot of things.’’

Today's heroines have better chance in Bollywood, tells Sharmila Tagore!

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore reveals actresses lately have a better chance unlike earlier times in the film industry.

"During our times it was nothing better than a good cry. We had to all look helpless... so, I think these people (heroines today) are having much more fun...," Sharmila told when questioned if she sees any difference between the actresses then and now.

Sharmila, 72, told that the life of a heroine during her time was not exciting.

"Heroines (then) couldn't be bad, so Helen had all the fun... heroine's life wasn't all that exciting... today's heroines have the much better chance," she further added The "Amar Prem" actress tells maintaining a continuity than was difficult.

"Also, we were working in three or four films at a time. So, maintaining a continuity was difficult because today Aamir Khan can put on and lose weight... we couldn't do all that," she told.

Speaking about the movies she likes the most out of those she starred in, Sharmila told, "I like 'Safar' and 'Mausam'. People really like 'Amar Prem' and 'Aradhana'. The shelf life of these films is still there... but my favourite is 'Safar' and 'Mausam'."

About her favourite co-star, she told, “I liked Shashi (Kapoor) very much. He's a friend. Of course, with Rajesh Khannaji I gave several hits and Dharmendra.”

Sharmila, who made her Bollywood debut in 1959, on Tuesday was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the PhD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Siri Fort Auditorium. 

Sharmila Tagore feels there are very few scripts written keeping in mind elderly actresses!

Bollywood evergreen actress and former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) head Sharmila Tagore feels there are very few scripts written keeping in mind "elderly" heroines, while the same is not true for their male counterparts.

"So many scripts are written for elderly male actors; these things are not happening for female actors. The girls have to be very young and the man can carry on forever," Sharmila, 72, revealed in Mumbai during an interview.

"One has to accept that life doesn't stop there (at a young age). In my time, life stopped at 30 or 40, but it doesn't have to because life carries on and there are a lot of interesting phases in life which they (the audience) might like," further added the actress, who had made her acting debut at the age of 13 with Satyajit Ray's "Apur Sansar" (World of Apu), the last in the celebrated Apu trilogy.

When you pair families together, they are gimmicky stunts, says Sharmila Tagore on doing a movie with Saif and Soha!

We have not seen the veteran actress Sharmila Tagore in a Bollywood film from some times.

When a famous tabloid questioned about her absence from flicks, Sharmila Tagore told, "It’s not that I don’t like working in films. I do, and to act in a film, right from start camera to cut is beautiful. The kind of films Ratna Pathak Shah is doing are really nice. I thought she was brilliant in Kapoor & Sons, so there is some kind of recognition for elderly roles today. But the truth is, I have got lots of interesting stuff also going on and I keep myself engaged in that. It doesn’t mean that if I don’t work in films, I have nothing to offer. I am happy and contented so only if there’s a very good role, will I take it up. I have done it all and have a lot of experience, so I am not that interested to be involved. There’s a whole world out there to experience besides films."

Sharmila is the mother of three children - Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan. Saif and Soha have both followed their mother's paths and Saif has even worked with his mom in two movies - Aashiq Awara and Eklavya. So would she like to work with Saif as well as Soha in a movie? To this, she told, "I don’t think so. We haven’t been offered one till now and also, as actors, we are selfish people and want to bring our best elements to screen with the best roles. When you pair families together, they are gimmicky stunts and don’t work unless the director of the film feels that the script and characters deserve that and we all fit in organically. It also depends on the audience and whether they want to see us together."

When questioned about not being in social media, the actress told, "Neither is Saif, Saba, or Kareena. I think social media is a way of people wanting to keep in touch but I feel that it’s an ongoing thing. I like my privacy and being on my own. I really don’t have the time doing so much. I absolutely don’t want to come on social media. I am more interested in the real world like seeing the sunset, or the trees. I love my garden, I love my friends, sitting and chatting with them and playing Scrabble, instead of the virtual world. I want to keep it like that. I want to have more time there. The girls are very tech-savvy and can do it very quickly, but I won’t even know how to do it. For me, even sending an SMS is a pain. I just want to pick up the phone and talk. I don’t like to look at the screen all the time. Too much time is taken and everybody is consulting Google and all and if I know a little bit, it’s fine. I don’t have to know everything. Everybody wants to be on top of things but for me those gaps in knowledge are fine. There’s a kind of fever where everybody wants to keep abreast of everything. I don’t have a problem saying I don’t know."

Kareena’s mum was more anxious when she was expecting as I am today when Soha is, says Sharmila Tagore!

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore is still known for her grace and elegance. She has a very big reason to celebrate 2017 as her daughter and actress Soha Ali Khan is all set to welcome her first child with Kunal Kemmu. 

Sharmila became a daadi last year to son Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan's son Taimur Ali Khan and this year she will become a nani. On whether it will be different this time, Sharmila told, "I don’t think there’s any difference as such in the family, but yes, it is a bit, as it’s my daughter now, who is giving birth. Kareena’s mum was more anxious when she was expecting as I am today when Soha is. It’s the mother-daughter bond. I think it’s quite a big decision for women to have children. In our time, I don’t think we thought so much about it. We just went and had them and of course, life is not fun-filled and not complete if you don’t have them. It’s a wonderful thing when you think about it. I felt so much closer to my mother after I had babies. It bonds a mother and daughter more." 

As Soha will be welcoming her first child, when the daily questioned Sharmila Tagore if she remembers the time she was expecting Saif and the actress told, "I wasn’t there as much for Saif as I was for Soha and Saba as I wasn’t working so much then. I was very busy during Saif’s time and when he was growing up. I was doing double shifts, but I did have the support of my husband and also my neighbour Sunita Goswami, who also happened to be teaching at Saif’s Bohri-run school Saifee Mahal, which was a wonderful school run by Mrs Noorani. She was Saif’s second mother and she and her husband Jatin looked after him a lot. I was there for all his milestones, but I really wasn’t there for his day-to-day work."

She also discloses that Saif shared most of her personality traits. "I think Saif does, Soha is more like her dad Tiger and Saba is a mixture of both of us. Saif and I are a little bit more impulsive and less practical. He likes his freedom. As a child, he was more mischievous, Soha was more studious and practical, while Saba is the most creative one," reveals the actress.

Sharmila Tagore wants husband’s biopic with Alia and Ranbir?

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore wants a biopic to be made on her late husband cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and astonishments if Ranbir and Alia could fit the roles.

"Yes, of course I would like a movie to be made on Mansoor Ali Khan. If someone really directs it properly, and with proper research, I think I would like it. I think his life has got a lot of things, about the accident, about losing his father and playing cricket with such a handicap," Sharmila told on the red carpet of Lux Golden Rose awards recently.

When enquired whom she would like to see in the role of Pataudi, the actress told, "I really don't know. Somebody who looks like Tiger. May be Ranbir Kapoor or somebody in the family."

But when enquired whom she would like to play her on the screen, Sharmila asked, "That's a real challenge. What about Alia Bhatt?"

Sharmila Tagore also spoken about her family trust working closely with acid attack victims.

"We have a trust, Pataudi Trust, we support acid attack victims. I think as a woman and as an actor, we are so involved with the physical attributes. So I cannot imagine it as a woman, that just because someone said no, you throw acid on her, this is terrible. I am restoring their faces," Sharmila further added.

Mansoor Ali Khan, called Tiger Pataudi, is often pronounced as India's greatest cricket captain. He was made captain of the Indian team at the age of 21 even though several other players were more experienced.

The actress told that they have already published a book on her cricketer husband and a biography is in the pipeline.