The legendary Sharmila Tagore, mother of Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan, who has been described as ‘Queen of Bollywood’ will treat audiences to an intimate glimpse into her life in the limelight during Surrey and Vancouver events.
SURREY – Icon of Indian cinema and ‘Queen of Bollywood,’ Sharmila Tagore will spend an intimate evening with fans, July 6 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey. The evening, entitled ‘A Life in the Limelight,’ will include insights and personal glimpses into Tagore’s incredible film career and life as a major international star, followed by a cocktail reception, in collaboration with the Surrey Board of Trade, as part of the Indian Summer Festival.
“Sharmila Tagore is a true film legend in India and around the world,” says Sirish Rao, Artistic Director of the Indian Summer Festival. “One of the most beloved and iconic Indian actors of all time, Tagore has made an indelible impact on the Indian film industry and has paved the way for future generations of Indian film stars.”
Sometimes referred to as ‘India’s Elizabeth Taylor,’ Tagore’s foray into cinema started at the tender age of 13, when a chance encounter with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray led to a role in his 1959 art house classic Apur Sansar. Just five years later, Tagore transformed into a superstar after appearing in 1964’s hit Kashmir Ki Kali.
Always pushing the boundaries in Indian society, Tagore created controversy when she became the first woman to appear in a bathing suit on the Indian screen in 1967, and again when she married Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, the former captain of the Indian cricket team. Two of their three children – Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan – have continued in Tagore’s footsteps to become two of today’s most sought after Bollywood stars.
Tagore is the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including several Filmfare Awards and National Film Awards, and Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema by the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), held in Toronto in 2011. In 2004 she was honoured by the government of France with the title Officier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) and recognized as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, in 2005.
For complete 2012 festival line-up and details, please visit indiansummerfestival.ca
