---
name: "Sharmila Tagore"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/sharmila-tagore"
fi1m_id: "sharmila-tagore"
imdb_id: "nm0846616"
tmdb_id: 13753
wikidata_id: "Q465830"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 December 1944"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-25T09:00:57.919148+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sharmila Tagore

## Identity

Sharmila Tagore

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/sharmila-tagore
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** sharmila-tagore
- **IMDb ID:** nm0846616
- **TMDB ID:** 13753
- **Wikidata ID:** Q465830
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharmila_Tagore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q465830, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0846616/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13753

Actor. Born 8 December 1944 in Cawnpore, United Provinces, British India (present-day Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India).

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 December 1944, Cawnpore, United Provinces, British India (present-day Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India)
- **Active:** 1959–present
- **Also known as:** शर्मिला टैगोर, শর্মিলা ঠাকুর
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharmila_Tagore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q465830, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0846616/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13753

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The World of Apu*](https://film.one/film/the-world-of-apu.md) (91)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Sharmila Tagore

> Sharmila Tagore makes listening an active part of a performance: we watch the other actor differently because she is there. We rate that quiet intelligence highly, though her films do not always give it enough room.

Watch Sharmila Tagore listening in *The World of Apu* (1959). As Aparna Roy, she gives Soumitra Chatterjee such close attention that a look from him can seem less confident than it did a moment earlier. She allows us to suspect that Aparna has understood something without making a display of the understanding. We were moved by their closeness because both actors seem to take in what the other says, rather than prepare their next line. It is a persuasive way to make two people matter to us.

That sensitivity was present in her debut, and Satyajit Ray remained an important director for her across five films. *Devi* (1960), in which she plays a young woman treated as divine by her father-in-law, makes the restrictions on a woman's life explicit. But her move into Hindi cinema with Shakti Samanta's *Kashmir Ki Kali* (1964) was not a clean break with Ray: *Aranyer Din Ratri* (1970) came later. Romantic leads and song-and-dance work required a different energy, and Tagore could supply it without abandoning her measured delivery.

The reservation in *The World of Apu* is that we want more of Aparna than the film gives us. Tagore makes her seem capable of carrying scenes of her own, which leaves us particularly alert to how much of her work consists of responding to someone else. It would be unfair to mistake that restriction for a limit in the actor. The double role of mother and daughter in Gulzar's *Mausam* (1975) offers a useful next stop, while Hrishikesh Mukherjee's *Chupke Chupke* (1975) puts her among a comic ensemble.

Later work became more intermittent and included Mira Nair's *Mississippi Masala* (1991). The return in *Gulmohar* (2023), after a long hiatus, finds her playing Kusum Batra with characteristic composure and emotional clarity. Those qualities are worth seeking out, but there is no need to begin with a comeback. For a first encounter, choose *The World of Apu* and watch Tagore even when Chatterjee has the line.

## Biography

Sharmila Tagore is an Indian actress who has worked in Hindi and Bengali cinema since 1959. She made her screen debut at the age of 14 as Aparna Roy in Satyajit Ray's *The World of Apu* (1959), the final film in the Apu trilogy.

Tagore went on to appear in further Ray films including *Devi* (1960) and *Aranyer Din Ratri* (1970), as well as Hindi successes such as *Aradhana* (1969) and *Chupke Chupke* (1975). She has also acted in later films including *Mississippi Masala* (1991), *Break Ke Baad* (2010) and *Gulmohar* (2023). In 2026 she made a cameo appearance as the Home Minister in *Vibe*.

She received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in 2013. Tagore is married to the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi; their children include actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, indianexpress.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *The World of Apu* (1959), Fi1m 91, as Aparna Roy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-world-of-apu.md)

## Complete filmography (95)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Vibe* (2026), as Home Minister
- *Puratawn* (2025), as Mrs. Sen
- *OutHouse* (2024), as Aadima
- *Gulmohar* (2023), as Kusum Batra
- *Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema* (2020), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Break Ke Baad* (2010), as Ayesha Khan
- *Life Goes On* (2009), as Manju
- *Parallel Folds* (2009), as Shama Vaze
- *Morning Walk* (2009), as Neelima
- *8x10 Tasveer* (2009), as Savitri Puri
- *Antaheen* (2009), as Abhik's Pishi
- *Fool N Final* (2007), as Lajwanti
- *Eklavya: The Royal Guard* (2007), as Queen Suhasinidevi
- *Viruddh... Family Comes First* (2005), as Sumitra Patwardhan
- *Shubho Muharat* (2003), as Padmini Chowdhury
- *In the Forest... Again* (2003), Actor
- *Dhadkan* (2000), as Dev's Mother
- *Mann* (1999), as Dev's grandmother
- *Ghar Bazar* (1998), Actor
- *Aashik Aawara* (1993), Actor
- *Mississippi Masala* (1991), as Kinnu
- *Hum To Chale Pardes* (1988), as Trishna
- *7 Saal Baad* (1987), as Nisha Mathur
- *Anurodh* (1987), as Jaya
- *Swati* (1986), as Sharda
- *New Delhi Times* (1986), as Nisha
- *Maa Beti* (1986), as Savitri
- *Sunny* (1984), as Sitara
- *Divorce* (1984), as Chandra
- *Jawaani* (1984), as Sushma
- *Protidan* (1983), Actor
- *Doosri Dulhan* (1983), as Renu
- *Durdesh* (1983), as Shobha
- *Desh Premee* (1982), as Bharati
- *Namkeen* (1982), Actor
- *Kalankini Kankabati* (1981), as Aparna Bai / Kankabati (Dual Role)
- *Pyar To Hona Hi Tha* (1981), Actor
- *Griha Pravesh* (1979), as Mansi
- *Besharam* (1978), as Renuka / Monica
- *Anand Ashram* (1977), as Asha
- *Tyaag* (1977), as Co-Producer
- *One Better Than the Other* (1976), Actor
- *Mausam* (1975), as Chanda / Kajli
- *Faraar* (1975), as Mala / Asha
- *Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka* (1975), as Aruna Sehgal
- *Chupke Chupke* (1975), as Sulekha Chaturvedi
- *Amanush* (1975), as Lekha
- *Anari* (1975), as Poonam
- *Aavishkar* (1974), as Mansi
- *Pap Aur Punya* (1974), as Jugni
- *Jadu Bangsha* (1974), Actor
- *Shaitaan* (1974), as Nisha
- *Charitraheen* (1974), as Rama "Rosie" Chaudhary
- *Shandaar* (1974), as Pratima
- *Aa Gale Lag Jaa* (1973), as Preeti
- *Daag* (1973), as Sonia Kohli
- *Raja Rani* (1973), as Nirmala 'Rani'
- *Yeh Gulistan Hamara* (1972), as Soo Reni
- *Dastaan* (1972), as Meena
- *Amar Prem* (1972), as Pushpa
- *Maalik* (1972), Actor
- *Badnam Farishte* (1971), Actor
- *Company Limited* (1971), as Tutul
- *Chhoti Bahu* (1971), as Radha
- *Where the River Padma Flows* (1971), Actor
- *Journey* (1970), as Neela
- *Days and Nights in the Forest* (1970), as Aparna
- *Suhana Safar* (1970), as Sapna
- *Mere Humsafar* (1970), as Tarna
- *My Love* (1970), as Sangeeta Thakur
- *Yakeen* (1969), as Rita
- *Pyasi Shaam* (1969), as Madhu
- *Aradhana* (1969), as Vandhana Tripathi
- *Talash* (1969), Actor
- *Satyakam* (1969), as Ranjana
- *Mere Hamdam Mere Dost* (1968), as Anita
- *Dil Aur Mohabbat* (1968), as Anuradha Varma
- *An Evening in Paris* (1967), Actor
- *Aamne-Saamne* (1967), as Sapna Mathur / Sapna G. Mittal
- *The Hero* (1966), as Aditi Sengupta
- *Devar* (1966), as Madhumati / Banwariya
- *Yeh Raat Phir Na Aaygi* (1966), as Kiran / Kiranmai
- *Anupama* (1966), as Uma
- *Sawan Ki Ghata* (1966), as Seema
- *Waqt* (1965), as Renu Khanna
- *Dak Ghar* (1965), Actor
- *Subho O Debotar Gras* (1964), Actor
- *Kashmir Ki Kali* (1964), as Champa Chameli
- *Kinu Gowalar Gali* (1964), Actor
- *Chaya Surya* (1963), Actor
- *The Desolate Beach* (1963), as Renu
- *Sesh Anka* (1963), as Soma
- *Barnali* (1963), as Aloka Choudhury
- *Devi* (1960), as Doyamoyee
- *The World of Apu* (1959), as Aparna Roy — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/the-world-of-apu.md)

## Gallery

- ![Clicked at JW Marriott hotel](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-167f54db7009.jpg) Clicked at JW Marriott hotel — Shrinivaskulkarni1388, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Sharmila_Tagore_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jawhar Sircar with Veteran Actress Sharmila Tagore (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-7f6e44222229.jpg) Jawhar Sircar with Veteran Actress Sharmila Tagore (2015) — Ramank257, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Jawhar_Sircar_with_Veteran_Actress_Sharmila_Tagore.JPG/1280px-Jawhar_Sircar_with_Veteran_Actress_Sharmila_Tagore.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Sharmila Tagore](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-b79d3f54ea1c.jpg) Sharmila Tagore — Image via TMDB
- ![Sharmila Tagore](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-f3436b171889.jpg) Sharmila Tagore — Image via TMDB
- ![Sharmila Tagore](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-dad326037b7a.jpg) Sharmila Tagore — Image via TMDB
- ![Sharmila Tagore](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-268da8856d00.jpg) Sharmila Tagore — Image via TMDB
- ![Sharmila Tagore](https://film.one/media/person/3721174/gallery-cba686cc71ae.jpg) Sharmila Tagore — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 4 won

- Padma Bhushan 2013: Padma Bhushan (won)
- National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress 2004: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Abar Aranye*
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres 1999: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (won)
- National Film Award for Best Actress 1976: National Film Award for Best Actress (won), for *Mausam*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/sharmila-tagore