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The great-granddaughter of poet Rabindranath Tagore, Sharmila Tagore is one of
the few true legendary actors of Indian cinema. Her career in movies spans
the art films of Satyajit Ray, Bollywood extravaganzas, classic social
dramas, and Indian parallel cinema. She is also considered of the most
glamorous figures in the history of Indian Popular cinema.
Excerpt from IndiaInfo article, She was also a style setter. Her butterfly knot
blouse, her style of making up, long eyelashes, her curvy dresses all became a
fashion statement. In the mean time she also appeared on the cover of a magazine
in two piece bikini which became the talk of the town.
Sharmila's and other Bollywood actresses' style and dress had a huge influence
on every young Indian woman of the 60s and 70s. Sharmila was a sensation in 60s
and 70s Bollywood. Much could and should be written (*I'm working of a paper
right now) about the 'Bikini Photo' showing Sharmila in a two piece Western
style bathing suit that was published in Indian magazines in 1966. For many
Indian and Islamic conservatives the photo was scandalous. The Photo opened
debates on many issues that dealt with sex, gender, and culture. Sharmila and
other young Indian woman of her generation wondered what the big deal was? She
just wanted to wear the latest vogue fashions.
In the 60s and 70s Sharmila could always be counted on to add 'sizzle' to a
Bollywood movie. Her signature Bollywood film was Shakti Samanta's classic "An
Evening In Paris" (1967). I've posted an image captures gallery from "An Evening
In Paris" below to display the amazing bouffant and style of Sharmila Tagore.
Sharmila Tagore is an actress who balanced her career between 'art films' and
popular cinema. In the 1970s she had a screen association with Rajesh Khanna
(who was the film heart throb of heart throbs) that produced some of the all
time classics of Bollywood social drama with films like "Aradhana" [1969], "Amar
Prem" [1971], and "Safar" [1970]. With her trademark dimpled cheek, amazing bone
structure, and wonderful figure she also headed the glamorous A list of
popularity in Bollywood masala entertainers.
On screen Tagore seemed as much at home in a 'sizzling' and 'revealing' item
number in a film like "An Evening In Paris" as she was in a quiet nearly silent
portrayal as an inhibited youth as in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's "Anupama" [1966].
In 1997 Sharmila Tagore won the award for Lifetime Achievement at the Filmfare
Awards. She is truly one of the great actresses of Indian Cinema.
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