Indian audience love to see tears on screen: Sharmila Tagore on Bollywood’s sentimental films

NEW DELHI: Emphasizing that Bollywood films’ sentimental content strikes a chord with the Indian audience, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore on Wednesday said people may not like to see someone crying in real life but “they love seeing tears” shed by characters in reel life.

“Our friends, family members and even doctors treating patients do not want see tears in eyes of people. But thank God for our audience who love to see tears on screen,” she said with a smile.

The actress, now in her 70s, said this on stage at a health-related event referring to one of the most famous scenes from the 1972 film “Amar Prem”, starring her and Rajesh Khanna. The clip featuring the popular line on ‘Pushpa’s tears’ was screened at the event.

In the scene, Khanna’s character tells Pushpa, played by Tagore after he finds her weeping, “Pushpa, mujhse ye aansu nahi dekhe jaate, I hate tears.”

This dialogue is considered one of the most iconic lines in the realm of Bollywood, which became part of pop culture, and has inspired art and humour-laden spoofs galore.

The audience loves tears, otherwise the film would not have lasted for more than a day, Tagore said, recalling the film. (AGENCIES)