In a recent interview, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore drew a comparison between herself and her late husband, Tiger Pataudi, with contemporary power couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli. Just as Anushka and Virat are celebrated in their respective fields, Sharmila and Tiger Pataudi were icons of their time, each excelling in their own professions without extensive knowledge in the other’s domain.
Sharmila humorously recounted that she was specifically prohibited from engaging in cricket discussions as part of her ‘nikaahnama’ (marriage contract). Reflecting on her own career, she admitted her limited understanding of cricket, but emphasized a profound insight gained from working with the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Sharmila shared that through Ray, she learned that the essence of great cinema lies in imagination and creativity, rather than a lavish budget, reinforcing the timeless value of thoughtful storytelling in filmmaking.
In a lively conversation with lawyer and politician Kapil Sibal, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore delved into the dynamic nature of the film industry. She expressed her confidence that quality smaller films would inevitably find their audience, highlighting the ever-evolving landscape of cinema.
Sibal intriguingly compared this to the world of cricket, particularly the IPL, prompting a humorous response from Sharmila. Laughing, she quipped, “I don’t think I’m qualified to talk about cricket. It was a part of my nikaahnama that you will not discuss cricket ever.”
Drawing a parallel to the IPL, Kapil Sibal highlighted how opening up funding and discovering fresh talent empowered young cricketers to step into the spotlight, gradually replacing the old guard. He noted, however, that this kind of transformation seems less evident in the film industry, which continues to be dominated by stars from previous generations.
Responding to this, Sharmila Tagore shared her perspective on creativity in cinema. She remarked, “The word creative itself is a very problematic word. Satyajit Ray taught me you don’t need an extraordinary budget to make a great film. You need extraordinary imagination, extraordinary talent, and extraordinary comprehension of what cinema is all about.” She went on to illustrate her point by mentioning the film ‘All We Imagine as Light’. “It is not an expensive film, but it won at Cannes, and I’m sure people will watch it in droves when it is released here.,” she added.
Sharmila Tagore, who was married to the legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has often reminisced about their unique love story. Although she enjoyed watching cricket, she admits she wasn’t deeply invested in the lives of cricketers. During an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Sharmila fondly recalled how their romance began at a cricket party in Kolkata, leading to an unforgettable prank.
“We met at a cricket party in Kolkata and then we exchanged telephone numbers,” she recounted. Tiger Pataudi orchestrated an elaborate prank, leading Sharmila to receive a call about supposedly illegal air conditioners. “I called that number and Tiger answered, and he was laughing. It was a joke, that kind of joke. That’s how it happened,” she said. With a chuckle, she added, “He said, ‘Can we go out for coffee?’ I said, ‘Yeah, we’ll go out for coffee.’ That was that. We never stopped.”
The couple later gave birth to three beautiful children, Saif Ali Khan, Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.
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