Sharmila Tagore, Elegant and Graceful at 70

With her daughter Soha Ali Khan's wedding reportedly around the corner, Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore has a lot to look forward to as she turns a year older. Here's a look at the pictorial journey of the actress who burst into the film industry as a child actress in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film Apur Sansar.

  • With her daughter Soha Ali Khan's wedding reportedly around the corner, Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore has a lot to look forward to as she turns a year older. Here's a look at the pictorial journey of the actress who burst into the film industry as a child actress in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film <i>Apur Sansar</i>.
    With her daughter Soha Ali Khan's wedding reportedly around the corner, Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore has a lot to look forward to as she turns a year older. Here's a look at the pictorial journey of the actress who burst into the film industry as a child actress in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film Apur Sansar.
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  • Sharmila Tagore was born on December 8, 1944 in Hyderabad to a Bengali father and an Assamese mother. Her father, Gitindranath Tagore, is a descendant of the illustrious Tagore family of Bengal which counts Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore as a member.
    Sharmila Tagore was born on December 8, 1944 in Hyderabad to a Bengali father and an Assamese mother. Her father, Gitindranath Tagore, is a descendant of the illustrious Tagore family of Bengal which counts Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore as a member.
  • Sharmila converted to Islam in order to marry cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi in a nikah ceremony held on December 27, 1969. After the wedding vows, she took the name Ayesha Sultana. Mansoor Ali Khan died of a lung disease in 2011.
    Sharmila converted to Islam in order to marry cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi in a nikah ceremony held on December 27, 1969. After the wedding vows, she took the name Ayesha Sultana. Mansoor Ali Khan died of a lung disease in 2011.
  • The Pataudis have three children. Their eldest son, Saif Ali Khan, is one of the leading actors in Bollywood today. Elder daughter Saba chose a career in jewellery designing. Their youngest daughter Soha Ali Khan worked independently in the financial sector before making a much delayed debut in Bollywood.
    The Pataudis have three children. Their eldest son, Saif Ali Khan, is one of the leading actors in Bollywood today. Elder daughter Saba chose a career in jewellery designing. Their youngest daughter Soha Ali Khan worked independently in the financial sector before making a much delayed debut in Bollywood.
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  • At the tender age of 14, Sharmila Tagore made her film debut as the leading lady in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film <i>Apur Sansar</i>. She played the role of the ill-fated bride of central character Apu with no prior acting experience whatsoever.
    At the tender age of 14, Sharmila Tagore made her film debut as the leading lady in Satyajit Ray's 1959 Bengali film Apur Sansar. She played the role of the ill-fated bride of central character Apu with no prior acting experience whatsoever.
  • The critically acclaimed director subsequently cast her again in his next film <i>Devi</i>. Thereafter, their bond grew stronger with three more films together - Nayak, Aranyer Din Ratri and Seemabaddha.
    The critically acclaimed director subsequently cast her again in his next film Devi. Thereafter, their bond grew stronger with three more films together - Nayak, Aranyer Din Ratri and Seemabaddha.
  • It was <i>Howrah Bridge</i> director Shakti Samanta who gave Sharmila Tagore her first break in Bollywood with <i>Kashmir Ki Kali</i> (1964), opposite Shammi Kapoor. The film turned out to be a mega hit.
    It was Howrah Bridge director Shakti Samanta who gave Sharmila Tagore her first break in Bollywood with Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), opposite Shammi Kapoor. The film turned out to be a mega hit.
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  • Shakti Samanta's <i>An Evening in Paris</i> (1967) featured Sharmila Tagore in a double role, once again opposite Shammi Kapoor. The actress made an appearance in a swimsuit, then relatively rare in Bollywood.
    Shakti Samanta's An Evening in Paris (1967) featured Sharmila Tagore in a double role, once again opposite Shammi Kapoor. The actress made an appearance in a swimsuit, then relatively rare in Bollywood.
  • Soon after, she posed on the cover of Filmfare magazine in a bikini, setting the trend for many of her peers in the film industry.
    Soon after, she posed on the cover of Filmfare magazine in a bikini, setting the trend for many of her peers in the film industry.
  • Sharmila's most successful <i>jodi</i> was with Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna with whom she was first cast in <i>Aradhana</i> (1969). She was awarded the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her heart-wrenching performance as the mother of an illegitimate son in the film.
    Sharmila's most successful jodi was with Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna with whom she was first cast in Aradhana (1969). She was awarded the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her heart-wrenching performance as the mother of an illegitimate son in the film.
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  • Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna were again cast together in the 1972 hit <i>Amar Prem</i> in which the actress played Pushpa, a courtesan in Kolkata. The film was most remembered for Rajesh Khanna's dialogue, "Pushpa, I hate tears". The two went on to act in acclaimed films such as <i>Daag</i>, <i>Maalik</i>, <i>Chhoti Bahu</i> and <i>Safar</i>.
    Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna were again cast together in the 1972 hit Amar Prem in which the actress played Pushpa, a courtesan in Kolkata. The film was most remembered for Rajesh Khanna's dialogue, "Pushpa, I hate tears". The two went on to act in acclaimed films such as Daag, Maalik, Chhoti Bahu and Safar.
  • In 1975, Sharmila Tagore starred in Gulzar's legendary movie <i>Mausam</i> alongside Sanjeev Kumar. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.
    In 1975, Sharmila Tagore starred in Gulzar's legendary movie Mausam alongside Sanjeev Kumar. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.
  • In the past 20 years, Sharmila has consciously chosen to lead a life away from the arc lights and the greasepaint, acting in only a handful of films such as Mira Nair's <i>Mississippi Masala</i> (1991), the Marathi film <i>Samaantar</i> (2009) and <i>Eklavya: The Royal Guard</i> (2007), in which she co-starred with her son Saif Ali Khan.
    In the past 20 years, Sharmila has consciously chosen to lead a life away from the arc lights and the greasepaint, acting in only a handful of films such as Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala (1991), the Marathi film Samaantar (2009) and Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007), in which she co-starred with her son Saif Ali Khan.
  • In 2004, she received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Goutam Ghose's Abar Aranye, a sequel of sorts to Satyajit Ray's <i>Aranyer Din Ratri</i>.
    In 2004, she received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Goutam Ghose's Abar Aranye, a sequel of sorts to Satyajit Ray's Aranyer Din Ratri.
  • Sharmila also received the title of 'Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters of France', given to those who have made a mark in recognition of significant contributions to the arts and literature.
    Sharmila also received the title of 'Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters of France', given to those who have made a mark in recognition of significant contributions to the arts and literature.
  • In 2009, she was the third Indian woman to be part of the jury at the Cannes film festival.<br><br> We wish Sharmila a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.
    In 2009, she was the third Indian woman to be part of the jury at the Cannes film festival.

    We wish Sharmila a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.