Celebrating Sharmila Tagore's Birthday: A Look At How She Views Life

The evergreen Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore is turning a year older today. This iconic star of the Indian cinema has been known for her elegance and passion for acting. She has been part of some of the biggest hits of Bollywood like Kashmir Ki Kali and Nayak. Tagore is also known for being a social activist and an ardent advocate of gender equality and feminism.

Sharmila Tagore was chosen as an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in December 2005. She has inspired many women just through her words itself.  Tagore through her words have openly criticised and called out many flaws of our society and the film industry. Her views on gender equality, patriarchy, equality are bold and indeed empowering. Here are some of the her quotes  which would inspire every woman.

Also Read: Bollywood Bias: Sharmila Tagore, Nandita Das on the gender challenge at The Bridge Talks"

ON WHO IS A REAL MAN

To be a real man, I think you have to be supportive of each other and to be a real woman you have to supportive of your man, and the man has to do the same thing, only then he would  be a real man."

ON BEING A SUPPORTIVE PARENT

"Parents should be told that if they invest in the education and upbringing of a girl child, she will also make contributions for the family and society."

MOTHER-IN-LAW AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RELATIONSHIP

"Well, a daughter is someone you've grown up with, right? So you know her temperament, you know what makes her angry and how to deal with that person. You're meeting your daughter-in-law when she is an adult already and you don't quite know what her temperament is like, so it takes time to gel."

REGRETS

"The only time I used to regret being a woman was when I had to use the toilets on sets when I would be shooting."

ON WORKING WOMEN

"All my life, I have been asked, 'How did your husband allow you to work in films?' They could understand a Nawab Pataudi marrying an actress Sharmila Tagore but how was she allowed to work in films."

"It should be your decision to get married, work, or have children."

ON  MAKING YOUR OWN CHOICES

"I don't feel any guilt, and I don't think any woman should, for making her own choices."

ON FILM INDUSTRY

"Society is patriarchal, so film industry by definition is certainly patriarchal. The male gaze is dominated."

Also Read: Can Bollywood Deal With Women Empowerment More Subtly?

Malavika M S is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

Picture Credit: freepressjournal.in