Sharmila Tagore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharmila Tagore
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Tagore at an event for Lux in 2016
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Born |
Sharmila Tagore
8 December 1944 |
Other names | Begum Ayesha Sultana |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1959–2010 2023–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | Saif Ali Khan (son) Saba Ali Khan (daughter) Soha Ali Khan (daughter) |
Family |
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Sharmila Tagore (also known as Begum Ayesha Sultana; born 8 December 1944) is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi and Bengali films. Regarded as one of Indian cinema's most accomplished actresses, Tagore is a recipient of two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, a Filmfare OTT Award and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Hindi cinema. In 2013, the Government of India, honoured her with Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour for her contributions to the Indian culture through performing arts.
Born into the prominent Tagore family, one of the leading families of Calcutta and a key influence during the Bengali Renaissance, Tagore made her acting debut at age 14 with Satyajit Ray's acclaimed Bengali epic drama The World of Apu (1959). She went on to collaborate with Ray on numerous other films, including Devi (1960), Nayak (1966), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), and Seemabaddha (1971); thus establishing herself as one of the most prominent figures in Bengali cinema.
Tagore's career further expanded when she ventured into Hindi films, making her debut with Shakti Samanta's musical romance Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema with films like Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aamne Saamne (1967), Satyakam (1969), Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970), Amar Prem (1972), Daag (1973), Avishkaar (1974), Chupke Chupke (1975), Mausam (1975), and Namkeen (1982). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Aradhana and the National Film Award for Best Actress for Mausam. This was followed by a decade of intermittent film appearances including Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala (1991), Goutam Ghose's Abar Aranye (2002), and the Hindi films Aashik Awara (1993), Mann (1999), Viruddh (2005), Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007), and Break Ke Baad (2010). Following a hiatus of 13 years, she made her film comeback with the drama Gulmohar (2023) for which she won the Best Actress Critics: Film at 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards.
Apart from acting, Tagore has also served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification from October 2004 to March 2011. In December 2005, she was chosen as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She was married to cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi with whom she had three children—actors Saif, and Soha, and jewellery designer Saba.
Early life and background
Sharmila Tagore was born on 8 December 1944 in Cawnpore (now Kanpur), United Provinces to Gitindranath Tagore, a general manager in the British India Corporation, and his wife Ira Tagore (née Baruah). Tagore's father belonged to the aristocratic Bengali Hindu Tagore family, and were distantly related to the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, while her mother was of Assamese Hindu descent and hailed from the Barua family. Gitindranath was the grandson of the noted painter Gaganendranath Tagore, whose own father Gunendranath had been a first cousin of the laureate. In fact, Tagore is more closely related to Rabindranath Tagore through her mother: her maternal grandmother, Latika Barua (née Tagore), was the granddaughter of Rabindranath Tagore's brother, Dwijendranath Tagore. Tagore's maternal grandfather (husband of Latika Barua née Tagore) was Jnanadabhiram Barua, an Assamese who was the first principal of Earl Law College in Guwahati (now known as Government Law College), himself the son of the noted social worker Gunabhiram Barua. As a member of the Tagore family, she is also a distant relative of the actress Devika Rani and the painter Abanindranath Tagore (brother of Gaganendranath Tagore).
Tagore was the eldest of three children and had two younger sisters, the late Oindrila Kunda [Tinku Tagore] and Romila Sen [Chinky]. Oindrila was the first in the family to act in a film, and the only role she ever played was that of Mini, the child character (but a central character) in Tapan Sinha's film Kabuliwala (1957). In adulthood, she became an international bridge player. Her other sister, Romila Sen, married to Nikhil Sen, a businessman who served as chief operating officer of Britannia Industries for several years, died as the founder and managing director of Unibic Foods in November 2019.
Tagore attended St. John's Diocesan Girls' Higher Secondary School and Loreto Convent, Asansol. She made her film debut when she was a 13-year-old schoolgirl, after which her studies lost priority. Within a short while, her attendance and performance at school suffered, she came to be regarded as a bad influence on her classmates, and was faced with a choice of either doing films or studying further. At that point, her father advised her to move ahead in life, commit herself to a film career and 'give it her all' in order to become successful.
Career
Career beginnings and breakthrough (1959-1968)
Tagore began her career as an actress in Satyajit Ray's Bengali epic drama Apur Sansar (1959), as an ill-fated bride. In 1960, Ray cast her again in Devi, a film set in 1860 on Hindu orthodoxy and rational reforms, which she considers her favourite film and performance. She went onto appear in Bengali films Shes Anko and Nirjan Saikate, winning the IFFI Best Actor Award (Female) for the latter.
Tagore made her Hindi film debut with Shakti Samanta's musical romance Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) alongside Shammi Kapoor. She and Samanta collaborated on several of his later films, including the romantic thriller An Evening in Paris (1967) again opposite Kapoor. ..... She also posed in a bikini for the cover of Filmfare magazine in 1966. But, when she was the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification 36 years later, she expressed concerns about the increased use of bikinis in Indian films.
Tagore went on to appear in films such as the Hindi films Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), Devar (1966), Aamne Saamne (1967), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), and the Bengali film Nayak (1966). Her performance in Anupama, opposite Dharmendra, proved to be her breakthrough.
Widespread acclaim and stardom (1969-1980)
The 1970's marked the most successful period of Tagore's career with a string of critical and commercial successes, with her pairing with Rajesh Khanna being particularly praised and noted. The Tagore-Khanna pair yielded several successful films, most notably the romantic dramas Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970), Chhoti Bahu (1971), Amar Prem (1972), Raja Rani (1973), Daag: A Poem of Love (1973) and Avishkaar (1974), and the spiritual drama Maalik (1972). All these films established her as one of the leading actresses of the time, in addition to establishing the Tagore-Khanna pair as one of the greatest best on-screen pairs of Indian cinema. Aradhana, Safar and Amar Prem earned Tagore nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, winning the award for the former.
During this period, Tagore also worked with Uttam Kumar in several films, including Nayak, and the bilingual dramas Amanush (1975), Anand Ashram (1977) and Dooriyaan (1979).
She headlined Gulzar's musical romance Mausam (1975) alongside Sanjeev Kumar, which earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress, and her fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
She starred opposite Dharmendra in seven critical and commercial successes – Devar, Anupama, Mere Hamdam Mere Dost, Satyakam (1969), Yakeen (1969), Chupke Chupke (1975), Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975).
She also worked alongside Amitabh Bachchan in Chupke Chupke, Faraar (1975) and Besharam (1978), opposite Shashi Kapoor in Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973) and Paap Aur Punya (1974).
Tagore's other films during this period included Ek Se Badhkar Ek (1976), Tyaag (1977), which she also co-produced, and the Malayalam film Chuvanna Chirakukal (1978) among others.
Further success and sporadic work (1981-2006)
In the 1980s, Tagore appeared in films such as Kalankini Kankabati (1981), Namkeen (1982), New Delhi Times (1986) and Maa Beti (1986). She reunited with frequent co-star Dharmendra in the action film Sunny (1984), which starred Dharmendra's son Sunny Deol in the lead role. Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Tagore played pivotal roles in the Bengali action film Protidan (1983) opposite Naseeruddin Shah, and Mira Nair's interracial romantic drama Mississippi Masala (1991). She also appeared in supporting roles in Ghar Bazar (1998) and Mann (1999).
During this period, she also appeared in two television shows, Katha Sagar (1986) for DD National and Zindagi (1999) for Star Plus.
Tagore starred alongside her son Saif Ali Khan in his debut film Aashik Awara (1993) and the action drama Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007), receiving critical praise for the latter. She also appeared in supporting roles in the musical romantic drama Dhadkan (2000) and the drama Abar Aranye (2003), the latter of which earned her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Tagore received high critical acclaim for her performance in the family drama Virruddh... Family Comes First (2005) alongside frequent co-star Bachchan, earning her fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Planet Bollywood noted, "Tagore, shines in a role tailor-made for her."
Intermittent work, hiatus and comeback (2007-present)
From 2007 to 2009, Tagore appeared in films such as Fool & Final (2007), Tasveer 8*10 (2009), Antaheen (2009) and the Marathi film Samaantar (2009). In 2009, Tagore became the jury member at the main competition of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. In 2010, she played a supporting role in the romantic comedy-drama Break Ke Baad, which earned her critical acclaim, for which DNA India noting that, "Tagore pitches in with a strong performance." This was followed by a hiatus from acting.
Tagore made her comeback after a 13 year hiatus with the drama Gulmohar (2023), which released on Disney+ Hotstar. The film earned her critical acclaim, with the Hindustan Times noting that, "The elegance and poise Tagore exudes are remarkable. Her dialogue delivery, gestures, body language, emotions, everything looks just so effortless even after a long hiatus." India Today also opined that, "Tagore is always a joy to watch on screen. And, what a comeback!"
Tagore is also set to make her comeback to Bengali films after 14 years with Suman Ghosh's Puratawn.
Personal life
Tagore converted to Islam, changed her name to Begum Ayesha Sultana, and married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the titular Nawab of Pataudi and Bhopal and former captain of the Indian cricket team, on 27 December 1968. They had three children: Bollywood actorSaif Ali Khan (b. 1970); Saba Ali Khan (b. 1976), a jewellery designer; and Soha Ali Khan (b. 1978), a Bollywood actress and TV personality. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi died at age 70 on 22 September 2011.
From 1991 to 2004, Saif was married to actress Amrita Singh. They have two children, daughter Sara Ali Khan (b. 1995), an actress, and son Ibrahim Ali Khan (b. 2001). His second marriage was to actress Kareena Kapoor in 2012 with whom he has two sons, Taimur Ali Khan (b. 2016) and Jahangir Ali Khan (b. 2021). Soha married actor Kunal Khemu in 2015, and has a daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemmu (b. 2017).
Filmography
Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
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1959 | Apur Sansar | Aparna | Bengali | Film debut | |
1960 | Devi | Doyamoyee | Bengali | ||
1963 | Shes Anko | Mala | Bengali | ||
Nirjan Saikate | Renu | Bengali | Won - IFFI Best Actor Award (Female) | ||
Barnali | Aloka Choudhury | Bengali | |||
Chhaya Shurjo | Ghentoo | Bengali | |||
1964 | Subha O Debatar Gras | Bengali | |||
Kinu Gowalar Gali | Neera | Bengali | |||
Kashmir Ki Kali | Champa | Hindi | Hindi film debut | ||
1965 | Waqt | Renu Khanna | Hindi | ||
Dak Ghar | Herself | Hindi | Guest appearance | ||
1966 | Anupama | Uma Sharma | Hindi | ||
Devar | Madhumati/Banwariya | Hindi | |||
Sawan Ki Ghata | Seema | Hindi | |||
Nayak | Aditi | Bengali | |||
Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi | Kiran/Kiranmai | Hindi | |||
1967 | Milan Ki Raat | Aarti | Hindi | ||
An Evening in Paris | Deepa /Roopa (Suzy) | Hindi | Double role | ||
Aamne Saamne | Sapna | Hindi | |||
1968 | Mere Hamdam Mere Dost | Anita | Hindi | ||
Humsaya | Leena Sen | Hindi | |||
Dil Aur Mohabbat | Anuradha Verma | Hindi | |||
1969 | Yakeen | Rita | Hindi | ||
Satyakam | Ranjana | Hindi | |||
Talash | Madhu/Gauri | Hindi | |||
Aradhana | Vandhana Tripathi | Hindi-Bengali bilingual | Won - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
Pyasi Sham | Madhu | Hindi | |||
1970 | Aranyer Din Ratri | Aparna | Bengali | ||
Suhana Safar | Sapna | Hindi | |||
Mere Humsafar | Taruna/Meenakshi | Hindi | |||
My Love | Sangeeta Thakur | Hindi | |||
Safar | Neela Kapoor | Hindi | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
1971 | Seemabaddha | Tutul | Bengali | ||
Chhoti Bahu | Radha | Hindi | |||
Badnam Farishte | Lawyer Renu | Hindi | Guest appearance | ||
1972 | Amar Prem | Pushpa | Hindi | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | |
Dastaan | Meena | Hindi | |||
Yeh Gulistan Hamara | Soo Reni | Hindi | |||
Maalik | Savitri | Hindi | |||
1973 | Raja Rani | Nirmala / Rani | Hindi | Double role | |
Daag | Sonia Kohli | Hindi | |||
Aa Gale Lag Jaa | Preeti | Hindi | |||
1974 | Shaandaar | Pratima | Hindi | ||
Avishkaar | Mansi | Hindi | |||
Paap Aur Punya | Jugni | Hindi | |||
Charitraheen | Rama Chaudhary | Hindi | |||
Shaitaan | Nisha | Hindi | |||
Jadu Bansha | Mala | Bengali | |||
1975 | Mausam | Chanda/Kajli | Hindi | Won National Film Award for Best Actress Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
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Anari | Poonam | Hindi | |||
Chupke Chupke | Sulekha Chaturvedi | Hindi | |||
Faraar | Mala/Asha | Hindi | |||
Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka | Aruna | Hindi | |||
Amanush | Lekha | Bengali-Hindi bilingual | |||
Khushboo | Lakhi | Hindi | |||
1976 | Ek Se Badhkar Ek | Rekha | Hindi | ||
Do Shatru | Rajkumari/Kaali | Hindi | |||
1977 | Anand Ashram | Asha | Bengali-Hindi bilingual | ||
Tyaag | Sunita | Hindi | Also co-producer | ||
1978 | Besharam | Rinku / Monica | Hindi | ||
1979 | Chuvanna Chirakukal | Savitri | Malayalam | Malayalam film debut | |
Dooriyaan | Lalita | Hindi | |||
Griha Pravesh | Mansi | Hindi | |||
Mother | Bengali | ||||
1981 | Kalankini Kankabati | Aparna/Kanka | Bengali | Double role | |
Naseeb | Herself | Hindi | Guest appearance | ||
1982 | Namkeen | Nimki | Hindi | ||
Desh Premee | Bharti | Hindi | |||
1983 | Protidan | Gouri | Bengali | ||
Gehri Chot – Urf: Durdesh | Shobha | Bengali-Hindi bilingual | |||
Doosri Dulhan | Renu | Hindi | |||
1984 | Sunny | Sitara | Hindi | ||
Jawaani | Sushma | Hindi | |||
Divorce | Chandra | Hindi | |||
Milenge Kabhi | Hindi | ||||
1985 | Ek Se Bhale Do | Mary D'Mello | Hindi | ||
Bandhan Anjana | Hindi | ||||
1986 | New Delhi Times | Nisha | Hindi | ||
Maa Beti | Savitri | Hindi | |||
Swati | Sharda | Hindi | |||
Ricky | Advocate Rukmini Khanna | Hindi | |||
1987 | 7 Saal Baad | Nisha | Hindi | ||
1988 | Anurodh | Jaya / Maya | Bengali | ||
Hum To Chale Pardes | Trishna | Hindi | Guest appearance | ||
1989 | Doorie | Nisha | Hindi | ||
1991 | Mississippi Masala | Kinnu | English | English film debut | |
Dastoor | Mohini Devi | Hindi | |||
1993 | Aashiq Awara | Mrs. Singh | Hindi | ||
1998 | Ghar Bazar | Hindi | Delayed release | ||
1999 | Mann | Suhana Devi Singh | Hindi | ||
2000 | Dhadkan | Jhanvi Ranjan Chopra | Hindi | ||
2002 | Abar Aranye | Aparna | Bengali | Won - National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
2003 | Shubho Mahurat | Padmini Chowdhury | Bengali | ||
2005 | Viruddh... Family Comes First | Sumitra Patwardhan | Hindi | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | |
2006 | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | Rani Suhasini Devi | Hindi | ||
2007 | Fool & Final | Lajwanti Bhabhi | Hindi | ||
2009 | Antaheen | Pishima | Bengali | ||
Tasveer 8*10 | Savitri Puri | Hindi | |||
Morning Walk | Neelima | Hindi | |||
Samaantar | Shama Vaze | Marathi | Marathi film debut | ||
2010 | Break Ke Baad | Ayesha Khan | Hindi | ||
2023 | Gulmohar | Kusum Batra | Hindi | Disney+ Hotstar film | |
2024 | Puratawn | TBA | Bengali | Filming |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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1986 | Katha Sagar | Various | ||
1999–2000 | Zindagi | Kamal's warden |
Music video
Year | Title | Performer(s) | Ref. |
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1988 | Mile Sur Mera Tumhara | Various |
Accolades
Civilian award
Year | Award | Work | Result | Ref. |
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2013 | Padma Bhushan | Contribution in the field of Arts | Honoured |
Acting awards
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
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1965 | 3rd International Film Festival of India | Best Actor (Female) | Nirjan Saikate | Won | |
1970 | 17th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Aradhana | Won | |
1971 | 18th Filmfare Awards | Safar | Nominated | ||
1973 | 20th Filmfare Awards | Amar Prem | Nominated | ||
1976 | 23rd National Film Awards | Best Actress | Mausam | Won | |
1977 | 24th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
1985 | 32nd Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sunny | Nominated | |
2003 | 51st National Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Abar Aranye | Won | |
2006 | 51st Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Viruddh | Nominated | |
12th Screen Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
2023 | 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Actress in a Film: Critics | Gulmohar | Won | |
Best Actress (Web Original Film) | Nominated |
Other awards
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
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1998 | 43rd Filmfare Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | |
2002 | Screen Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | |
2010 | Anandalok Puraskar | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | |
2011 | 12th IIFA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema | Won | |
Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | |||
2019 | Hello! Hall of Fame Award | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | |
Vogue Beauty Awards | Beauty Legend | Won | ||
2023 | Bimal Roy Memorial Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured |
Honours and recognitions
- 1999 - Honoured by the French government with the Insignes de Commandeur de Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
- 2012 - Honoured by the Edinburgh University with a Honorary Doctorate of Arts, for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
See also
In Spanish: Sharmila Tagore para niños
- List of Indian film actresses