Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 9 hrs ago
Saba Ali Khan says Sharmila Tagore converted before marrying Pataudi
Saba Ali Khan says her mother, Sharmila Tagore, converted to Islam before marrying Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Pataudi was a former captain of India’s national cricket team, and Tagore was a well-known actor.
Saba said the conversion was needed for the marriage to be accepted under the traditions of the time, and that Pataudi’s mother would not otherwise have approved.
Tagore adopted the name Ayesha, and the marriage sparked controversy and death threats for the couple.
Saba said the conversion did not stop her mother from acting or require her to change her name on official documents.
She added that her parents let their children choose their own paths and celebrate festivals including Holi, Diwali and Eid.
Saba Ali Khan said her mother, Sharmila Tagore, converted to Islam before marrying Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Saba said the conversion was necessary for the marriage to be accepted under the system and traditions of the time.
She said Pataudi’s mother would not have agreed to the match otherwise.
Sharmila adopted the name Ayesha, but Saba said the conversion did not restrict her mother’s acting career or require her to change official documents.
Saba said her family celebrated Holi, Diwali and Eid, and that her parents allowed them to follow their own paths.
- Who
- Sharmila Tagore converted to Islam before marrying Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, according to their daughter Saba Ali Khan.
- What
- Saba discussed her mother’s conversion and its reasons in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan.
- When
- Saba spoke about it recently; the date of the conversation is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Saba said conversion was necessary for the marriage to be accepted under the system and traditions of the time, and that Pataudi’s mother would not have agreed otherwise.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sharmila Tagore converted to Islam and adopted the name Ayesha.
The conversion sparked controversy, and Sharmila and Mansoor received death threats.
Their daughter Saba Ali Khan discussed the conversion in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan.
- Sharmila Tagore’s adopted name
- Ayesha
- Husband
- Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
- Daughter who discussed the conversion
- Saba Ali Khan
- Family festivals
- Holi, Diwali and Eid
- Interview host
- Siddharth Kannan
1 source
What people are saying
In those days, conversion was necessary. The children are legitimate because of conversion, which legalised things. It was a necessity and not something one could consider if or not to do
My grandmother (Mansoor’s mother) would surely not have allowed it in any other way
It didn’t take away from her personality or her profession
We were always allowed to follow our own path by both our parents