Even at 80, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore continues to defy expectations — not just through her enduring legacy on screen, but with her fearless, independent spirit in everyday life. In a heartwarming and amusing anecdote, her daughter Soha Ali Khan recently shared a moment that perfectly captures her mother’s vibrant personality.
Appearing on Nayandeep Rakshit’s podcast, The Bombay Journey, Soha revealed that Sharmila mostly lives alone in Delhi and refuses to move to Mumbai, despite her family’s insistence. Soha recalled a memorable incident that took place when her mother was trying to reach a book launch amidst Delhi’s notorious traffic. “She was going to a book launch, and there was too much traffic, so she got out of her car, hailed a woman on a scooter, and asked her to drop her closer to the venue,” Soha recounted.
If that wasn’t bold enough, Sharmila didn’t stop there. “Then she got off that scooter, stopped someone else on a bike, and hopped on to reach near the event. I was like, ‘Amma, you are 80, and this is Delhi!’” Soha said with a laugh. Sharmila later casually told her, “That person dropped me halfway, and I walked the rest of the way to the book launch.”
Her adventurous spirit reflects the same boldness she has brought to her cinematic journey. After an 18-year break from Bengali cinema, Sharmila made a triumphant return with Suman Ghosh’s psychological drama Puratawn. The film became the fifth highest-grossing Bengali film of the year, earning her critical acclaim and reminding audiences of her powerful screen presence.
As for what’s next, Sharmila hasn’t confirmed any upcoming projects. According to Soha, her mother remains undecided. “One moment she says she won’t work anymore, and the next, she finds a script that excites her,” Soha shared.
Meanwhile, Soha herself is back in the spotlight. After a seven-year hiatus, she recently appeared in Chhorii 2, a horror film directed by Vishal Furia, co-starring Nushrratt Bharuccha, Gashmeer Mahajani, and Jitendra Kumar. Up next, she’s gearing up for the suspense thriller Bridge, alongside R. Madhavan and Raashii Khanna. The film is expected to release in late 2025 or early 2026.
Whether on screen or off it, Sharmila Tagore continues to inspire — proving age is just a number when one lives with courage and curiosity.