Lesser-known facts about Sharmila Tagore that prove she's always been ahead of her time

Long before Bollywood embraced bold fashion choices, Sharmila Tagore turned heads by donning a swimsuit in the 1967 film An Evening in Paris — a daring move for its time. She had already made waves by appearing on a magazine cover in a bikini, challenging traditional norms and setting a new precedent for onscreen style.

Sharmila was only a teenager when she starred in Satyajit Ray’s critically acclaimed Apur Sansar in 1959. Though her family hailed from the intellectual Tagore clan, acting wasn’t seen as a typical career choice. Yet she defied expectations and quickly rose to stardom, balancing parallel cinema with mainstream Bollywood.

In 1969, Sharmila married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi and a cricketing legend. After marriage, she adopted the name Ayesha Sultana and gracefully took on her new role as royalty, all while continuing her career — something few actresses managed at the time.

From 2004 to 2011, Sharmila Tagore served as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Known for her sensible yet progressive take on censorship, she worked to strike a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility, navigating one of the most complex roles in the film industry.

Even in her later years, Sharmila has chosen roles that reflect maturity and emotional depth. She’s vocal about the importance of embracing ageing and has called for more diverse roles for older actors. Her work today continues to inspire a generation of performers to age boldly, both on and off screen.