Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore unfortunately failed to attend the inaugural Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi Memorial lecture held by late cricketer's immediate family members as she was admitted at Aashlok Nursing Home due to food poising.

“I am really very sad that I couldn't make it to Chennai for the inaugural lecture. I am suffering from severe bout of food poisoning and it became impossible for me to attend the event. I fell so ill that I have been admitted to a local nursing home,” said Sharmila Tagore to PTI from the nursing home.

The actress said that didn't know that Sunil Gavaskar's inaugural lecture was being streamed live.

"Is it so? I didn't have a clue. I knew that it would be aired tomorrow."

The actress said that she was the only one free to attend the lecture.

“Saif is shooting for ‘Bullet Raja’ while Soha is promoting her film ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster’. Saba was also busy on the day with her event. So, I was the only one who was free to attend the event but I unfortunately fell ill," she said.

It must be recalled in this regard that Sharmila Tagore had written specifically to BCCI president N Srinivasan after the parent body delayed in their announcement of instituting the lecture.

She also wrote on the India versus England home series being named after the former India captain but the BCCI explained that the home series trophy has always been known as Anthony D'Mello Trophy while MCC has started the Pataudi Trophy.