Sharmila Tagore met Yash Chopra and his wife Pam in 1965 when Yash directed her in Time. She worked with Yash Chopra when she starred in Daag opposite Rajesh Khanna.
Recently the actress spoke about Pamela with a leading news organization. Talking about the couple, she said, “Yash and Pam were very much in love. I remember once I was traveling back from London (I think). They were on the seats. In front of me. As you You know, Yash never drinks. But they were sharing glasses of champagne, one each… It was such a lovely moment, toasting each other, the companionship, the mutual admiration… He adored her and He adored her. It’s very rare, especially in our film industry, for a couple to be so devoted to each other.”
She further credits Yash and Pam for their successful marriage and says that Pamela was undoubtedly amazing, but Yash was kind, considerate, loving, and showed his feelings. Pam was a bit reserved coming from a non-filmy background, but she made everyone feel at ease. “She was always by his side, always supported him. They were a perfect couple,” she said.
Sharmila regrets not meeting the couple more often and says she feels this way because of not being able to see Pam recently. She said, “I remember Yash calling me to condole for my husband Tiger when we were on our way to Pataudi after his death. And then Yash suddenly and unnecessarily passed away soon after ” Describing Yash Chopra, she said that Yash was like the sparkle of life and she misses his generosity. She said, “I remember his generosity. I once asked him to show my film to the blind after an organization approached me. Yash immediately agreed.”
Sharmila recalls how devoted Pamela was to Yash. “She was like his shadow, a companion, his confidante. I couldn’t separate them.”
When asked if Yash and Pam’s relationship was similar to that of Sharmila and Pataudi, she clarified that Pataudi was in a different profession. In contrast, Yash and Pam worked together in the same industry, with Pam taking care of her household and raising her children. According to Sharmilaji, Pam was a very positive influence on Yash’s life and the lives of his children, allowing Yash to focus on his work and ensuring that his children were brought up according to his wishes. He also made sure that his sons remain grounded and not overconfident.
See also: Throwback when Pamela Chopra sang DDLJ’s Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam for Shah Rukh Khan