Sharmila Tagore
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: December 8, 1944
Hometown: Cawnpore (now Kanpur),India
Parents’ Name: Gitindranath Tagore (father) and Ira Tagore (mother)
Spouses Name: Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (cricketer)
Education: St. John’s Diocesan Girls’ Higher Secondary School and Loreto Convent, Asansol
Employment History: Actress (1959-present)
Debuted in Satyajit Ray's Bengali film "Apur Sansar" (1959)
Starred in several Bollywood films, including "Kashmir Ki Kali" (1964), "Aradhana" (1967), and "Amar Prem" (1972)
Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (2004-2011)
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (2005-present).
She has also served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification from October 2004 to March 2011
Sharmila Tagore, an impact maker The Progress Catalyst
Sharmila Tagore is an Indian actress who has made a lasting impact on Indian cinema with her work in Hindi and Bengali films. She is also a social activist, a former chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Here are some of the reasons why she is an impact maker, a change maker, and a progress catalyst in her domain.
A Versatile and Prolific Actress
Sharmila Tagore started her acting career at the age of 14 with Satyajit Ray's acclaimed Bengali film The World of Apu (1959). She went on to collaborate with Ray on several other films, such as Devi (1960), Nayak (1966), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), and Seemabaddha (1971), showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress. She also ventured into Hindi films, making her debut with Shakti Samanta's romantic drama Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). She established 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), Mausam (1975), Chupke Chupke (1975), and Namkeen (1982). She also made intermittent appearances in films like Mississippi Masala (1991), Abar Aranye (2002), Viruddh (2005), Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2006), and Break Ke Baad (2010). She made her film comeback after 12 years with Gulmohar (2023). She has won two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Hindi cinema.
A Trailblazer and a Trendsetter
Sharmila Tagore has been one of the first Indian actresses to break the stereotypes and conventions of Indian cinema. She was the first Indian actress to appear in a bikini for the 1967 film An Evening in Paris, which established her as a sex symbol in Hindi films. She was also one of the first actresses to play unconventional and bold roles, such as a cabaret dancer in An Evening in Paris, a woman who falls in love with a married man in Aradhana, a prostitute in Mausam, and a terminally ill woman in Safar. She also played strong and independent women characters, such as a journalist in Seemabaddha, a lawyer in Yeh Gulistan Hamara, and a single mother in Griha Pravesh. She was also one of the first actresses to balance her career and family life, as she continued to act after her marriage to cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in 1968 and after becoming a mother of three children.
A Social Activist and a Responsible Citizen
Sharmila Tagore has also been involved in various social causes and initiatives throughout her life. She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005, advocating for children's rights, education, health, and nutrition. She has also been vocal about issues such as women's empowerment, gender equality, environmental protection, and communal harmony. She also served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification from 2004 to 2011, where she tried to bring reforms and transparency in the film certification process. She has also been honoured with Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2013 for her contributions to the Indian culture through performing arts.
Sharmila Tagore is an impact maker as she has influenced generations of actors and filmmakers with her work. She is a change-maker because she has challenged the norms and expectations of the society with her choices. She remains a progress catalyst as she keeps contributing to nation-building and social development through her domain or industry expertise and skillsets.
