Golden Days: When Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi played a prank on Sharmila Tagore

In a special segment of Golden Days, we take a nostalgic journey back to the early days of one of India's most beloved couples, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and the legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Their story of love and companionship spans over four decades, starting with an unforgettable first meeting.
Reflecting on her first encounter with the former Indian cricket team captain, Sharmila during her appearance on ‘Kon Banega Crorepati 15’ revealed that their paths crossed at a cricket party in Kolkata.She was an ardent cricket enthusiast and admirer of cricketers, which set the stage for their initial meeting. “At a cricket party in Kolkata, we met. And then we exchanged telephone numbers,” she recounted with a smile.
Their budding romance was punctuated by significant events, including a memorable phone call Sharmila made to congratulate Tiger on his remarkable performance in a cricket match. “We were going to Nainital for 'Waqt'. That's when he scored a double century in Delhi so that was very famous. So, I called him and he was not at home. So, I left a message congratulating him for the double century as Sharmila Tagore,” she shared.

The story took a humorous turn when Sharmila received a strange phone call months later in Mumbai. She was told that she had received five air conditioners from London, a dubious claim given the import restrictions at the time. “I thought somebody was trying to get me into trouble. And I'll go to jail. I have never even ordered them. I got perturbed. There was a number given. So, I rang that number,” she explained. To her surprise, the voice on the other end was Tiger Pataudi, laughing and admitting it was a prank. “So, that's how it happened. And he asked if we could go out for coffee. I said yeah, we'll go out for coffee,” she continued.
Their love story blossomed from that playful exchange, leading to a marriage in 1968 that lasted 43 years until Tiger's passing in 2011. Together, they raised three children: actor Saif Ali Khan, jewelry designer Saba Ali Khan, and actress Soha Ali Khan. Their union remains a poignant chapter in India's cultural history, blending the worlds of cinema and sports in a timeless romance.