Sharmila Tagore Recalls Being Labelled 'Bad Girl' During Early Years: 'I Became A Social Suspect'
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recently reflected on the judgment she faced during the early days of her career.
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recently reflected on the judgment she faced during the early days of her career. As an independent single woman in an industry that was accustomed to traditional, demure girls, she said she was often branded a "bad girl" for not conforming to societal norms.
Sharmila Tagore on being labelled a 'bad girl'
Speaking on the latest edition of SCREEN Live, Sharmila shared that her confidence stemmed from her family history. However, perceptions of her began to shift after she married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and changed even more after she became a mother.
She explained, “When I joined films, working in films was deeply frowned upon. Therefore, the film industry also withdrew. They had their own little club. They also stayed away from society, because it was very judgmental. The male actors were accepted, but the women were not respected.”
Sharmila added, “Even I felt, once upon a time, that I would be whistled at, or I would get that kind of admiration. When you get married, there is a different kind of respect. And when you become a mother, then you’ve joined the collective. I remember going to Hyderabad, and a car had to come to collect me. Within minutes, a crowd gathered, and people asked me if my son needed to be taken care of. They took me to another room, brought me a chair… It was a different kind of reception altogether.”
On society's perception after becoming a married woman
She noted how societal attitudes toward the film industry have evolved significantly over the years. Recalling a particularly troubling incident, she shared how a mob once hurled mud at her and threatened to set the train she was traveling in on fire. Despite this, she said her self-confidence never wavered.
“I came from a different kind of family. I was GN Tagore’s daughter. I knew who I was, and I had self-confidence. I didn’t really care much about what others said about me. I was exactly the same then as I am now… But because I lived alone in a hotel, I was not chaperoned, people had different ideas. I became a social suspect. Others were from Maharashtra, they were chaperoned, they wore white, they didn’t drink alcohol. I was different, so I was the ‘bad girl,’” she said.
Sharmila concluded by emphasising the importance of staying true to herself. “I cannot possibly please everybody, but as long as my conscience is clear, I’m fine with the brickbats. Support and affirmation came from my family,” she said.
On the work front, the veteran actress was seen in the national award winning film 'Gulmohar' also starring Manoj Bajpayee.
Trending News
Top Headlines
