Sharmila Tagore is a renowned Indian film actress from Bengal, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. In December 2005 she was chosen as an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

She began her Hindi film career with Shammi Kapoor in 'Kashmir Ki Kali' and 'An Evening In Paris'. Although she was too young for a film career (she was barely thirteen), her freshness and ebullience made her a selling proposition. "Acting happened too early in life," she recalls. "In fact, 'Apur Sansar', my first film and then 'Devi', were supposed to be my only films. I worked in them during my school holidays."

Being Satyajit Ray's discovery in 'Apur Sansar' gave Sharmila a distinction from the onset. In their second film together, 'Devi', her portrayal of a teenage wife whose father-in-law believes her to be the reincarnation of Kali, moved America's most respected film critic, Pauline Kael to remark, "… she is exquisite, perfect ".

"But because of my early success with these films and because I was inundated with offers from with Shakti Samanta and Sachin Bhowmick who were known to my parents, I succumbed. So my career in films was a kind of chance with pressure, mingled with curiosity. But it was never meant to be a long-term goal. And when 'Kashmir Ki Kali' happened, it was suppose to be my only film in Bombay and I was going to get back to Calcutta. But films kind of kept happening and the acting bug slowly got hold of me." Although her initial films didn't give her much scope to prove her potential as an actress, she made an indelible mark in the minds of the audience with her performances. And with films like 'Aradhana', which charted the growth of her character from a young girl to an old woman, her career changed soon afterwards. Likewise, in a series of Rajesh Khanna hits like 'Daag', 'Amar Prem' and 'Safar', she was established as a star.

However, she continued to work with Ray, in films like 'Nayak', (where she surprised everybody by wearing spectacles throughout the film), 'Aranyer Din Ratri' and 'Seemabaddha'. "Looking back, I realise I was very different from the other actresses of my time. My behaviour was grossly misinterpreted. I felt I was making mistakes all the time. I'd wear clothes that were not suitable. Everybody would be wearing a sari and I'd turn up in jeans. I was also accused of being snooty and arrogant, which I was not. I didn't know that one was expected to lead a certain lifestyle."

However, her marriage to the former Indian cricket captain, Mansoor Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi, has been one of the most successful ones in the industry, so much so that her best performances have been with the support of her husband. "Tiger was totally supportive. People were hundred percent convinced that our marriage would not last. But we have proved all of them wrong."


Awards :

1969 - Filmfare Best Actress Award - Aradhana
1976 - National Film Award for Best Actress - Mausam
1997 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
2003 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award


ABOUT HER SELF :

Second name: Ayesha Sultana
Date of Birth: 8 December 1946
Height: 5'3" or 1.60 m
City: Hyderabad
Country: India
Children: son Saif Ali Khan, daughters Saba and Soha Ali Khan
Marital status: married
Spouse: indian cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi
Religion: converted to Islam
Other facts: she is the great-granddaughter of poet Rabindranath Tagore
Occupation: bollywood actress
Debut Film: Apur Sansar
Languages: bengali, hindi, English

FILMOGRAPHY :

2007 Fool and Final
Eklavya
Viruddh
Shubho Mahurat
Abar Aranye
Dhadkan
Mann
Aashiq Awara
Mississippi Masala
Hum To Chale Pardes
7 Saal Baad
"Zindagi"
Abodh
Maa Beti
New Delhi Times
Ricky
Swati
Bandhan Anjana
Divorce
Jawaani
Sunny
Doosri Dulhan
Door-desh
Desh Premee
Namkeen
Kalankini Kankabati
Do Shatru
Griha Pravesh
Dooriyaan
Besharam
Anand Ashram
Tyaag
Ek Se Badhkar Ek
Mausam
Faraar
Amanush
Anari
Chupke Chupke
Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka
Khushboo
Charitraheen
Jadu Bansha
Paap Aur Punya
Shandaar
Avishkaar
Raja Rani
Aa Gale Lag Jaa
Daag: A Poem of Love
Dastaan
Maalik
Yeh Gulistan Hamara
Amar Prem
Badnam Farishte
Chhoti Bahu
Seemabaddha
Aranyer Din Ratri
Mere Humsafar
My Love
Safar
Suhana Safar
Aradhana
Pyaasi Sham
Satyakam
Talash
Yakeen
Dil Aur Mohabbat
Humsaya
Mere Hamdam Mere Dost
Aamne Samne
An Evening in Paris
Nayak
Anupama
Devar
Sawan Ki Ghata
Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi
Waqt
Kashmir Ki Kali
Prabhater Rang
Barnali
Nirjan Saikate
Shesh Anka
Devi
Apur Sansar