The shooting of director Asit Sen’s film ‘Safar’ was in progress. Released in 1970, the film starred Feroze Khan and Rajesh Khanna alongside Sharmila Tagore.
When Sharmila Tagore got free time from her reflection, she thought of the envelope that her husband Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had sent specially for her.
Sharmila Tagore opened that envelope with great anxiety and eagerness, and inside it, beautiful poems were written on a piece of paper. She was very familiar with her husband’s style of writing. I understood that he wrote such beautiful and romantic poems himself.
Sharmila Tagore’s heart leapt with joy. Leaving the make-up unfinished, she reached the place where Rajesh Khanna and Feroze Khan were busy chatting.
Sharmila Tagore wanted to show how much her husband Tiger Pataudi loves her, who remembers him so fondly even when he is away that Sharmila has become a poet in love with Tagore.
Sharmila Tagore and Bhopal Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan also met in a strange way. It was known to the world that he is the son of cricketer Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, but since he made a place in the Indian cricket team, he has established his own unique identity.
He was nicknamed ‘Tiger Pataudi’ instead of his real name because of his powerful strokes and extraordinary leadership, and one scholar was crazy about his attractive masculinity.
In 1964, when the British cricket team toured India and played a test match in Calcutta, Sharmila Tagore and Tiger Pataudi met for the first time in a private ceremony there. Tiger Pataudi knew Meena Kumari and Vijanthimala by then. Sharmila Tagore, on the other hand, was limited to only Bengali language films.
Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan fell in love with the simple Sharmila Tagore dressed in a green saree at the very first sight. Exchanged each other’s numbers through a mutual friend. In this tour, Indian cricket team captain Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan scored 203 runs not out in the Delhi Test, Sharmila Tagore specially called him and congratulated him on his double century.
In fact, this was the moment when the flowers of love for each other blossomed in the hearts of both. After that, the ceremonies in both of them started to increase. During this period, Sharmila Tagore started working in Hindi films from Bengali, then one success after another kissed her feet. Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore were lost in the valley of love and were usually seen together.
According to Sharmila Tagore, the shooting of the film ‘An Evening in Paris’ took place in the romantic atmosphere of Paris, where Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan also expressed his love regularly which was not possible for Sharmila Tagore to reject.
Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan, who was deprived of his father’s affection in childhood, expressed his wish to his mother, Nawab Begum of Bhopal, that he wanted to marry Sharmila Tagore.
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The family was open-minded, so there was no objection to this wish, and on 27 December 1968, Sharmila Tagore and Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan got engaged.
Sharmila Tagore converted to Islam and was named Ayesha Begum. Tiger Pataudi allowed her to act in films as long as she wanted.
Sharmila Tagore approached Rajesh Khanna and Feroze Khan while disembarking and started reciting to them the poems written by Tiger Pataudi in ‘Mohbat Naame’. When Sharmila Tagore told them that these poems were the perfection of her beloved husband’s own poetic taste, Feroze Khan fell down from his chair laughing.
They were repeatedly inquiring whether what Sharmila Tagore was saying was true. Sharmila Tagore was shocked that why such a strange question is being asked while she has said that Tiger Pataudi wrote these poems himself.
Sharmila Tagore got a little angry but then she controlled it and wanted to ask something, so Feroze Khan once told her that just tell it again.
Sharmila Tagore started reading again
What happened to you heartless?
What is the medicine for this pain?
Earlier, Sharmila and read, Feroze Khan laughingly told that this poem was not by Tiger Pataudi but by the most famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib, which he sent to Sharmila Tagore as his own. Sharmila Tagore could not believe when she looked at Rajesh Khanna, she also supported Feroze Khan.
When the truth came out, Sharmila Tagore felt sorry for her lack of knowledge. Ruthi also with her husband but this sequence did not last long. Even Tiger Pataudi admitted that it was not his poetry.
Interestingly, in the film ‘Mirza Ghalib’, made on the famous poet of Urdu language, the same ghazal was sung by Talat Mehmood and Soraya in a very beautiful manner in the music composed by Ghulam Muhammad and it is believed that Tiger Patudi sang it. After hearing the lyrics of the same song from this 1954 film, he wrote and sent it to his fellow travelers.
It is possible that this secret of Sharmila Tagore would not have been revealed sooner if it were not for Rajesh Khanna or Feroze Khan. Sharmila Tagore, who used to bring smiles, pain and sorrow to others’ faces by acting, was betrayed by her husband’s poetry acting.
The love journey of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore continued till 22 September 2011. As long as Tiger Patodi lived.
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#Nawab #Pataudi #Ghalibs #poetry #Sharmila #Tagore
**Interview with Sharmila Tagore on the Love Story of Tiger Pataudi and the Intriguing Mix-Up Over Poetry**
*Interviewer*: Welcome, Sharmila! It’s an honor to speak with you today about your beautiful love story with Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as Tiger Pataudi. You’ve always spoken fondly about your relationship. Can you share the moment when you received those heartfelt poems from him?
*Sharmila Tagore*: Thank you! The moment was truly special. I had just finished my scene in ‘Safar’ when I received an envelope from Tiger. I was anxious yet excited to see what was inside. It was filled with beautiful poems, and my heart leapt with joy. It felt like his love was reaching me despite the distance.
*Interviewer*: That sounds magical! Can you tell us what happened when you excitedly shared those poems with Rajesh Khanna and Feroze Khan on set?
*Sharmila Tagore*: (laughs) Yes! I couldn’t hold my excitement. I rushed to show them the poems, believing completely that they captured Tiger’s poetic essence. But to my surprise, Feroze burst out laughing, and they were really confused. They later revealed that one of the poems was actually from Mirza Ghalib, not from Tiger at all! It was embarrassing, but also very funny.
*Interviewer*: It must have been a moment of mixed emotions! How did this incident shape your perception of your husband, and did it change anything in your relationship?
*Sharmila Tagore*: It didn’t change anything fundamentally. If anything, it made me appreciate Tiger’s charm even more. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and moments like this remind me that love isn’t just about grand gestures, but also about shared laughter. Tiger always encouraged me to pursue my career and express myself, which only deepened my love for him.
*Interviewer*: Your love story has captured the hearts of many. What was it like to transition from Sharmila Tagore to Ayesha Begum, and how did you balance your career in films with your life as a Nawab’s wife?
*Sharmila Tagore*: The transition was seamless in many ways. Tiger was very supportive and allowed me to continue acting, which was crucial for my identity. Converting to Islam was a deeply personal decision, and I cherished being able to carve my place in both roles. My family and Tiger’s family have always been open-minded, which made my journey smoother.
*Interviewer*: Lastly, what legacy do you hope your love story and experiences will leave for future generations?
*Sharmila Tagore*: I hope it inspires people to embrace love in all its forms, to pursue their passions, and to find humor and joy in relationships. Love is a journey of understanding and growth, and I believe it’s important to cherish every moment.
*Interviewer*: Thank you, Sharmila, for sharing your wonderful memories and insights with us. Your story is a true testament to love and companionship.
*Sharmila Tagore*: Thank you! It was lovely to reminisce and share my experiences.
