Stockholm, Jun 4 (IANS): Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize centenary celebrations began here Tuesday with Bollywood icon Sharmila Tagore, who is from the same family and on her first visit here, saying that there will "be readings of Tagore poetry and prose".

The opening ceremony took place in central Stockholm. Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Sharmila Tagore was assisted by London-based producer Sangeeta Dutt, who is currently promoting her debut film "Life Goes On".

Sharmila brings in a troupe that will highlight Rabidranath Tagore's literary life and other achievements.

"There will be readings of Tagore poetry and prose...," Sharmila Tagore told IANS in an interview in Stockholm.

It includes his Nobel Prize-winning masterpiece "Gitanjali".

"There will be much song, music and dance."

This is Sharmila's first visit to Sweden, but her name evokes much nostalgia and among the Swedes.

Sharmila Tagore is the first Bollywood personality to appear on screen clad in bikini.

To a query on how she felt about a demand to ban bikini-clad mannequins in Mumbai, with a ghost of a smile Sharmila Tagore said: "Well, India is a composite of many things, that includes tolerance and intolerance in various proportions. That is the price of democracy. By its sheer size, Indian democracy bears great responsibility of see through things palatable - unpalatable."