Children’s Day sent Soha Ali Khan looking through her family albums. On November 14, the actor shared rare childhood photographs of her parents, actor Sharmila Tagore and former cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, with India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.The pictures prompted Soha to reflect on her parents’ childhood ambitions, the opportunities that helped them realise their dreams and Nehru’s belief in the potential of children.
The post also offered a glimpse into the early lives of Sharmila and Mansoor, popularly known as Tiger Pataudi, whose relationship began in 1965 and led to their marriage in 1968.Soha shared three black-and-white photographs on Instagram. In one picture, a young Sharmila is seen pinning something onto Nehru’s coat.
Another shows her standing beside him at All India Radio. The third features a young Tiger sitting next to the former Prime Minister.“Before they were my parents, they were children too.
Today, on Children’s Day, which marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I’m sharing two special glimpses from our family albums,” Soha wrote in the caption. She added, “My mother as a little girl, my father as a boy, alongside a man who believed that children were the future of the nation.”Soha also wrote about her parents’ dreams and the opportunities that enabled them to fulfil their ambitions.
Wishing the same opportunities for children across the country, she said, “My parents had big dreams — with talent, hard work, perseverance and opportunity, their dreams came true. May every child have the same chance to turn their dreams into reality.
Happy Children’s Day!”Sharmila Tagore and Tiger Pataudi’s relationship Sharmila and Tiger first met at an after-match party in 1965. They were in a relationship for around four years before getting married in 1968.
During their courtship, Tiger reportedly wooed Sharmila with gifts ranging from roses to air conditioners. The couple also lived together before their wedding.In June this year, Sharmila discussed their relationship in a conversation with Barkha Dutt.
Recalling the scepticism surrounding their romance, she said, “Yash Chopra told me, ‘These Nawabs are very doubtful people, so you have to be very careful.’ He was a good friend and genuinely concerned.”During an appearance on Siddharth Kannan’s show, the couple’s eldest daughter, Saba Ali Khan Pataudi, revealed that Sharmila had converted to Islam before the wedding, as was the norm at the time.Sharmila and Tiger had three children: Saif Ali Khan in 1970, Saba in 1976 and Soha in 1978. Tiger died in 2011 at the age of 70.- Ends