Begum Ayesha Sultana (born as Sharmila Tagore on 8 December 1944) is an Indian film actress. She has won National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards for her performances. She has led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011. In December 2005 she was chosen as an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She was converted to Islam from Hinduism before her Nikkah with Mansoor Ali Khan and change her name to Ayesha Sultana.
Sharmila was born in a Hindu Bengali family in Hyderabad State to Gitindranath Tagore who was then deputy general manager of the East India Company owner of Elgin Mills. Gitindranath was the son of Kanakendranath Tagore who is the son of noted painter Gaganendranath Tagore. She attended St. John’s Diocesan Girls’ Higher Secondary School and Loreto Convent, Asansol. She is the great-grand niece of noted poet Rabindranath Tagore.
She married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi and former captain of the Indian cricket team, in a Nikkah ceremony held on 27 December 1969.They had three children: Saif Ali Khan who is a Bollywood actor and husband of actress Kareena Kapoor , Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan a Bollywood actress