When Mala Sinha allegedly slapped Sharmila Tagore on set: A Throwback to ‘Humsaya' shoot
Sharmila Tagore
and
Mala Sinha
during the shooting of the 1968 film
Humsaya
, directed by
Joy Mukherjee
.
Clash of the Queens on set
As reported by Masala, the tensions began early on during the shoot of Humsaya, where Sharmila Tagore and Mala Sinha were cast opposite Joy Mukherjee, who also directed the film. Reportedly, ego clashes surfaced over screen time, dialogues, songs, and even costumes. Petty disagreements snowballed into full-blown rivalry, with each actress allegedly insisting that the other arrive first on set to assert seniority.
The slap that made headlines
The feud allegedly reached a dramatic peak during a confrontation scene when Mala Sinha, considered the senior star at the time, was rumoured to have slapped Sharmila Tagore. While the moment was reportedly witnessed by a few on set, the details remain murky. Years later, when the story resurfaced, both actresses publicly denied the incident. Mala went on record calling the rumour 'loose talk for the film's publicity.'
Cold Wars and repeated patterns
This wasn't the last time Sharmila Tagore found herself in a cold war with a co-star. Years later, during the filming of Daag, she and Raakhee reportedly shared similarly frosty vibes. Director Yash Chopra had to play peacemaker on multiple occasions, while Rajesh Khanna was said to have worsened matters by manipulating both actresses.
Did you know Sharmila Tagore once shared that people predicted that her marriage wouldn't last a year due to this reason?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
10-07-2025
- India Today
When Saif Ali Khan told Sharmila Tagore he doesn't want her, recalls Soha Ali Khan
Actor Soha Ali Khan recently opened up on her and brother Saif Ali Khan's childhood while Sharmila Tagore was working full-time in films. She recalled how Saif would get upset with Sharmila when she would not see him for in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, spoke about how her mother's absence in childhood due to work affected her said, "Sometimes, my mother didn't see my brother for weeks. And then, she would rush home to do bedtime with him, and he would be like, 'I don't need you. I don't want you right now' because he was also upset." The actor further said, "So he is fine with Didi, and then you are like, 'What did I rush home for?' And then you are so stressed about that time that you end up being short with your children, so it's a lot.""I am very sympathetic to mothers, new mothers, trying to find their feet, what they need. I think raising a child is an incredibly challenging, incredibly rewarding thing to do," Soha is the youngest daughter of late Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and veteran actor Sharmila Tagore. She also has an elder sister, Saba Ali Khan, while Saif is the eldest among the married actor Kunal Khemu in 2015. The couple welcomed their daughter Inaaya Naumi Khemmu in made her film debut with the Bengali film 'Iti Srikanta' (2004). The same year, her first Bollywood film 'Dil Maange More' opposite Shahid Kapoor was also is best known for her roles in films like 'Anatarmahal' (2005), 'Rang De Basanti' (2006) and 'Ahista Ahista' (2006).The actor was last seen in Prime Video's horror-drama 'Chhorii 2' (2025). The film also featured Nushrratt Bharuccha, Gashmeer Mahajani and Saurabh Goyal in key roles.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Sanjay Dutt critiques Bollywood's shift: 'The audience needs the mass'
At the launch of the teaser event for his upcoming film 'KD – The Devil,' happened in Mumbai on July 10, 2025, veteran actor Sanjay Dutt shared his concerns about the current state of Bollywood cinema. He emphasized that films based on people packed with action, emotion, and larger-than-life characters are what truly resonate with Indian audiences. A call for commercial entertainment Dutt stated, 'Bollywood has forgotten how to make massy films. The audience needs the mass.' Dutt's comments came during a media interaction at the teaser launch, where he praised KD – The Devil for its 'mass appeal' and 'powerful storytelling.' According to Bollywood Hungama, he said, 'The character I have played is very powerful. His relationship with his wife is very unique. It's a massy character. Since the time I did Rocky, I have only worked for masses.' He also credited director Prem for crafting a film that blends emotional depth with stylized action, calling him 'one of the most talented directors and one of the best human beings I have met.' KD – The Devil: A return to roots? The teaser for 'KD – The Devil' promises a gritty, action-packed period drama set in 1970s Bangalore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Dutt plays Dhak Deva, a formidable force bonded by blood with Dhruva Sarja's character KD. The film also stars Shilpa Shetty and Nora Fatehi, and is being presented in five languages—Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. As noted by 'Masala,' fans are already calling it a 'badass action and bloodbath' spectacle, with Dutt's OG appearance drawing nostalgic praise. The bigger picture: Bollywood's identity crisis? Dutt's comments are part of a larger discussion about Bollywood's changing identity. Many industry veterans are wondering if Hindi cinema has lost touch with its mass roots in light of the rise of pan-Indian films from the South and a growing desire for high-octane entertainers. What was his message? It's time to revive massy storytelling's swagger, scale, and essence.
Pink Villa
10-07-2025
- Pink Villa
Did Saif Ali Khan share a strained bond with mom Sharmila Tagore due to her weeks-long absences?
Female actors in Bollywood, especially those with children, often share their struggles in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In a recent interview, Soha Ali Khan opened up about an incident when her brother, Saif Ali Khan, would tell their mother, Sharmila Tagore, that he didn't need her and wanted to be with their nanny after she returned from an entire day's work to be with him. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Soha Ali Khan discussed the work-life balance for mothers working in the entertainment industry. She narrated a story about her mother, Sharmila Tagore, and her brother, Saif Ali Khan, that is going to stun you. She revealed that the veteran actress would sometimes work so much that her brother wouldn't see her for weeks. After completing her work, she would rush home to do bedtime with him, and he would be like, 'I don't need you. I don't want you right now' because he was also upset. The Tashan actor would tell their mother that he is fine with his nanny, and then Sharmila would wonder why she rushed home. This would stress her a lot. Soha further spoke about all the new moms and their struggles. She added, "I am very sympathetic to mothers, new mothers, trying to find their feet, and what they need. I think raising a child is an incredibly challenging, incredibly rewarding thing to do." The Tum Mile actress also revealed that once she became a mother, she started crying because she did not get to see her daughter the entire day. "Wherever I am in the world, when it's 7 o'clock, I start to get very antsy. That's my ritual with her, bedtime. So even when I was on set, I burst into tears once because we were in Rajasthan and we were shooting in Mandava and it was bedtime and I had not seen her all day, but that was one day," she said. Earlier, Sharmila Tagore had admitted that she worked in two shifts a day for the first six years of Saif Ali Khan's life, and she called herself absent. She also added that she was not a full-time mom, but her husband was always there to support her.
