When Sharmila Tagore spoke about changing her religion and name to marry Tiger Pataudi: 'It had to be faced and understood'

Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's love story was truly ahead of its time. They dated for a few years before taking the plunge into marriage—a bold step back then, especially since interfaith unions were rare and unheard of. Sharmila embraced Islam, adopting the name Ayesha. Reflecting on this in an earlier interview, she shared how, despite not being very religious before, converting deepened her understanding of both Hinduism and Islam.

In an old interview with Simi Garewal, Sharmila opened up about her experience of changing her religion. She described it as a process that required careful consideration and deep understanding, especially since she wasn’t particularly religious before. This journey led her to learn more about both Hinduism and Islam. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, her husband, revealed that he was the one who suggested the name Ayesha after her conversion.

Tagore fondly remembered her relationship with her mother-in-law, Nawab Begum of Bhopal, Sajida Sultan. She recalled their first meeting, admitting she was quite nervous at the time. When asked about her feelings for Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Sharmila candidly shared that she liked him but was still figuring things out, acknowledging that his mother knew him better. Over time, Sharmila and her mother-in-law developed a strong bond marked by mutual respect.