Sharmila Tagore is a Bollywood veteran actress. She was born on 8 December 1944 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. She completed her schooling from Loreto Convent School, West Bengal, and St John’s Diocesan Girls Higher Secondary School, Kolkata. 

Her father’s name was Gitindrinath Tagore, and her mother’s name was Ira Baruah. She is the eldest among her sisters, the late Oindrila Kunda and Romila Sen. 

She was married to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. She has a son, Saif Ali Khan, and two daughters, Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan. 

Sharmila Tagore’s favourites

Her hobbies include shopping, gardening, reading books, and listening to music. 

She likes to eat Bengali food. 

Her favourite actors are Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra. 

Her favourite film director is Satyajit Ray. 

Her favourite singer is Begum Akhtar. 

Her favourite travelling destinations are France and South Africa. 

Interesting facts about Sharmila Tagore

Sharmila Tagore’s mother was the granddaughter of Rabindranath Tagore’s brother. 

At the young age of 13, Sharmila Tagore began working in the films. 

Sharmila Tagore’s sister, Oindrila was the first family member to act in a film. She played the role of ‘Mini’ in Tapan Sinha’s ‘Kabuliwala.’

Sharmila Tagore’s acting debut

In the year 1959, Sharmila Tagore made her acting debut with a Bengali film called ‘Apur Sansar’ or ‘Apu Ki Duniya.’

In the year 1964, Sharmila worked in her first Bollywood film ‘Kashmir Ki Kali.’ 

Sharmila played the role of ‘Roopa Malik’ in the 1967 film ‘An Evening in Paris.’ The film was a massive hit and established her as a successful Bollywood actress. 

In 1967, Sharmila Tagore became the first Indian actress to pose in a bikini for the cover page of Filmfare magazine. 

Sharmila Tagore’s marriage

Sharmila Tagore married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in the year 1968. He was the captain of the Indian cricket team. 

They are parents to Saba Ali Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Soha Ali Khan. 

Kareena Kapoor Khan is Sharmila Tagore’s daughter-in-law. 

Sharmila Tagore’s legacy

In the year 2005, she was selected as the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF India.

For the period between 2004 and 2011, she served as the Chairperson of the Indian Film Censor Board. 

The Indian audience loved Sharmila Tagore’s on-screen pairing with Rajesh Khanna. The two have worked together in plenty of hit films. 

Honouring a legend

In the year 1970, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the film ‘Aradhana.’

In 1975, Sharmila Tagore was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actress for the film ‘Mausam.’

Filmfare honoured her with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 1998. 

In 2003, she received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film ‘Abar Aranye.’

In the year 2013, Sharmila Tagore was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India. 

Sharmila Tagore’s hit films

Sharmila Tagore’s most popular films are, Aradhana (1969), Amar Prem (1972), Amanush (1975), Safar (1970), Daag (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975), Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973), Anupama (1966), Ananda Ashram (1977), Chhoti Bahu (1971), Waqt (1965), Devar (1966), Mere Humsafar (1970), Mississippi Masala (1991), Griha Pravesh (1979), and Anari (1975).

She recently appeared in the role of ‘Kusum Batra’ in the 2023 film ‘Gulmohar.’