Today's heroines have more fun in Bollywood: Sharmila Tagore

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore says actresses today have a better chances unlike earlier times in the film industry. "During our times, all we got to do was cry. We had to all look helpless. I think heroines today are having much more fun," she says when asked if she sees any difference between the actresses then and now.

Sharmila, 72, feels that the life of a heroine during her time was not exciting. "Heroines then couldn't be bad, so Helen (who played a vamp) had all the fun. A heroine's life wasn't all that exciting. Today's heroines have a much better time," she adds.

The Amar Prem actress says maintaining continuity was difficult in her days. "We were working on three or four films at a time. So, maintaining continuity was difficult. Today Aamir Khan can put on and lose weight for each film. We couldn't do all that," she says.

Sharmila says, of the films she starred in, she likes Safar and Mausam best. "People really like Amar Prem and Aradhana. And those films do have a good shelf life. But my favourites are Safar and Mausam."

In her journey in the industry spanning over five decades, Sharmila has also starred in films like Kashmir Ki Kali, Aa Gale Lag Jaa and An Evening In Paris.

About her favourite co-star, she says, "I liked Shashi (Kapoor) very much. He's a friend. Of course, with Rajesh Khannaji I gave several hits, and also with Dharmendra."

Sharmila, who made her Bollywood debut in 1959, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Siri Fort Auditorium on Tuesday.

Apart from the actress, filmmaker-fashion designer Muzzafar Ali was also feted with a Special Award for contribution to the Indian cinema. The Chamber also gave awards to several singers like Kavita Seth, Prem Bhatia, Akriti Kakar, Usha Mangeshkar, and Ankit Tiwari.