Sharmila Tagore’s elder daughter Saba reveals shocking truth about relationship with sister, actress Soha Ali Khan, says Rang De Basanti star was ‘barely in touch’ when she was diagnosed with brain tumour

Having a cancer diagnosis can be extremely devastating. You are in a fragile state mentally, and during this time, people want to be in close proximity to their near and dear ones and have unconditional support from family and well-wishers. In a recent chat with her sister Soha Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore’s first daughter, Saba, said that she was upset when the Rang De Basanti star did not support her when she was undergoing a severe health crisis - a cancer diagnosis.

In an appearance on her younger sister, actress Soha Ali Khan’s podcast All About Her, Saba expressed her disappointment at how she was not there for her when she was diagnosed and battling cancer.

Soha admitted that she was quite young at the time and lacked the maturity to understand how best to support her elder sister. She remembered talking about that time and explained that a doctor had asked Saba to name the person she would trust to take care of her if she ever couldn't take care of herself.


Soha remembered that their mother, Amma, had told her to think carefully about whom she would choose for such a responsibility.

Saba, however, could not recall what she had said at the time. When Soha reminded her that she had finally chosen Amma, Saba agreed that the memory could be right.

The conversation then became more relaxed when Soha asked if Saba had been thinking about the Japanese doctor who had treated her. Saba had talked about it on the podcast before, saying she had started to like the doctor while she was getting treatment.

Before Saba could finish explaining her thoughts, the neurosurgeon on the programme said that she hadn't even mentioned Soha as a possible option.

When Soha responded, “No, I was nine in my mind,” Saba did not hold back.

Saba then told why she had felt upset because of her younger sister's alleged negligence towards her during that phase. She remembered that Soha had stayed mostly out of touch while their brother and mother were there to help her. Saba mentioned that she was upset because Soha wasn't involved much. She also said that even though Soha had thought she was too young to understand the situation at first, she was actually 25 years old back then and was busy with her own life.

Saba further said that she was so upset, as she thought Soha was so wrapped up in her own life, she had no time for her own sister. She said she was receiving support from cousins and extended family, but having her younger sister completely out of the picture was jarring.

For the unversed, Saba was 27 when she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour. Though diagnosed as slow-growing and Grade 1, the tumour affected her memory, causing difficulties to remember things.