Sharmila Tagore (born 8 December 1944), also known by her married name Begum Ayesha Sultana, is a distinguished Indian actress whose career has extended over six decades across Hindi and Bengali cinema. Born in Cawnpore (now Kanpur) into the illustrious Tagore family, she is the daughter of Gitindranath Tagore, an executive in the British India Corporation, and Ira Tagore (née Barua). Her lineage reflects a confluence of Bengal's cultural aristocracy and Assamese intellectual heritage, with familial ties to Rabindranath Tagore, Devika Rani, and Abanindranath Tagore. Tagore's artistic trajectory began at the age of fourteen, when Satyajit Ray cast her in The World of Apu (1959). She subsequently collaborated with Ray on acclaimed works including Devi (1960), Nayak (1966), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), and Seemabaddha (1971), and soon established herself as a leading presence in Bengali cinema through films such as Barnali (1963), Nirjan Saikate (1965), and Amanush (1975). Educated at St. John's Diocesan Girls' School and Loreto Convent, Asansol, she left formal schooling early as her acting commitments intensified. Her transition to Hindi cinema occurred with Shakti Samanta's Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), marking the beginning of a prolific period in which she headlined major films including Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970), Amar Prem (1972), and Mausam (1975). Her performance in Aradhana earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, while Mausam won her the National Film Award for Best Actress. In later decades she appeared selectively, notably in New Delhi Times (1986), Mississippi Masala (1991), Abar Aranye (2002)—for which she received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress—Eklavya (2007), and Break Ke Baad (2010). In 1968, Tagore converted to Islam and married cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, with whom she had three children: Saif Ali Khan, Saba Ali Khan, and Soha Ali Khan. Following a 13-year hiatus, she returned to the screen with Gulmohar (2023), earning the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress (Critics), followed by a critically praised performance in Puratawn (2025). Renowned for expanding the representational boundaries of female roles in Indian cinema, Tagore portrayed complex characters that challenged prevailing gender norms. Her willingness to defy convention—including her groundbreaking swimsuit appearance in An Evening in Paris (1967)—marked a significant cultural shift. Beyond acting, she chaired the Central Board of Film Certification (2004–2011) and served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Her contributions have been recognised with honours including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1999) and the Padma Bhushan (2013).