Sharmila Tagore is an Indian film actress known for her works predominantly in Hindi cinema. She has won "National Film Awards" and "Filmfare Awards" for her outstanding performances. She has led the "Indian Film Censor Board" from October 2004 till March 2011. In December 2005 she was chosen as an "UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador". In 2013, she was awarded the most prestigious award, "Padma Bhushan" by the Government of India.

Early Life of Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore was born on 8th December 1946 into a Hindu Bengali family in Hyderabad to Gitindranath Tagore who was then Deputy General Manager at the Elgin Mills of the British East India Company. Her father was the son of Kanakendranath Tagore, who was the son of noted painter Gaganendranath Tagore and a relative of another famous Indian painter Abanindranath Tagore.

Career of Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore made her debut at an age of 14 in Satyajit Ray"s "Apur Sansar" and later appeared in a number of Ray films including "Devi", "Nayak", "Aranyer Din Ratri" and "Seemabaddha".

Sharmila Tagore"s first Bollywood film was Shakti Samanta"s "Kashmir Ki Kali" opposite Shammi Kapoor. The film portrayed her angelic beauty in a mesmeric way and she became an overnight star. Sharmila next worked with ace filmmakers like Yash Chopra in "Waqt", Hrishikesh Mukherjee in "Anupama" and Mohan Segal in "Devar".

Sharmila Tagore gained immense popularity as an actress in Bengali and Hindi film industry during 60s and 70s. Sharmila Tagore became the first Indian actress to have appeared in a two piece bikini in Shakti Samanta"s 1967 hit "An Evening in Paris" opposite Shammi Kapoor. Sharmila"s bold act of donning a two piece bikini became a trendsetter and made her the hottest Bollywood actress. Sharmila Tagore was paired with superstar Rajesh Khanna in a number of films and they sparked an incredible chemistry on screen. They appeared together in successful films like "Aradhana", "Amar Prem", "Daag", "Maalik" and "Safar".

Sharmila Tagore won accolades for her performance in Gulzar"s 1975 film, "Mausam" for which she received the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress. Sharmila continued to rule the Indian film industry with riveting performances in "Chupke Chupke", "Amanush" and "Desh Premee". Sharmila appeared in character role during 90s in films like Mira Nair"s "Mississippi Masala". Sharmila Tagore was recently seen alongside Amitabh Bachchan in "Viruddh: Family Comes First" and "Eklavya: The Royal Guard".

Awards Received by Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore won many awards including "Filmfare Best Actress Award" in the year 1969 for "Aradhana". In the year 1976 she won "National Film Award for Best Actress" in "Mausam". She got "Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1997. In 2003 she got "Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award" and 2004, the "National Award for Supporting Actress" in "Abar Aranye".

Filmography of Sharmila Tagore in Bengali

•"Apur Sansar" (1959)
•"Devi" (1960)
•"Shesh Anka" (1963)
•"Nirjan Saikate" (1963)
•"Chhaya Shurjo" (1963)
•"Aranyer Din Ratri" (1970)
•"Seemabaddha"(1971)
•"Protidan" (1983)
•"Shubho Mahurat" (2003)
•"Antaheen" (2009)

Filmography of Sharmila Tagore in Hindi

•"Kashmir Ki Kali" (1964)
•"Waqt" (1965)
•"Dak Ghar" (1965)
•"Anupama" (1966)
•"Devar" (1966)
•"Sawan Ki Ghata" (1966)
•"Nayak" (1966)
•"Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi" (1966)
•"Milan Ki Raat" (1967)
•"An Evening in Paris" (1967)
•"Aamne Saamne" (1967)
•"Mere Hamdam Mere Dost" (1968)
•"Humsaya" (1968)
•"Yakeen" (1969)
•"Satyakam" (1969)
•"Talash" (1969)
•"Aradhana" (1969)
•"Safar" (1970)
•"Chhoti Bahu" (1971)
•"Amar Prem" (1972)
•"Dastaan" (1972)
•"Yeh Gulistan Hamara" (1972)
•"Raja Rani" (1973)
•"Daag" (1973)
•"Aa Gale Lag Jaa" (1973)
•"Aavishkar" (1974)
•"Mausam" (1975)
•"Chupke Chupke" (1975)
•"Faraar" (1975)
•"Amanush" (1977)
•"Besharam" (1978)
•"Dooriyaan" (1979)
•"Namkeen" (1982)
•"Desh Premee" (1982)
•"Sunny" (1984)
•"Aashiq Awara" (1993)
•"Mann" (1999)
•"Dhadkan" (2000)
•"Viruddh... Family Comes First" (2005)
•"Eklavya: The Royal Guard" (2006)
•"Fool and Final" (2007)
•"Tasveer 8x10" (2008)
•"Morning Walk" (2009)
•"Break Ke Baad" (2010)

Filmography of Sharmila Tagore in Other Languages

•"Gehri Chot" (1983)
•"Mississippi Masala" (1991) (English)
•"Samaantar" (2009) (Marathi)

Personal Life of Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a well known Indian Cricketer and the "Nawab of Pataudi" in the year 1969. Thereafter, she converted to Islam and adopted the name Begum Ayesha Sultana. Sharmila Tagore is the mother of Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, while her other daughter, Saba Ali Khan is a jewellery designer.