Romantic Photos of Michael Caine and Shakira Baskh From the ‘70s to ‘80s

Back in 1971, Guyanese actress and model Sharika Baksh starred in a British television commercial for Maxwell House Coffee, which caught the attention of Michael Caine. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was Caine’s first thought upon seeing Baksh for the first time, and the actor immediately became obsessed with finding her. “‘That is the woman for me,’ I said to my mate, ‘We are going to Brazil in the morning, we are going to find her,’” recalled the actor, according to Daily Mail.

1970s. (Tom Wargacki)

Fortunately, a friend informed him that she was, in fact, not Brazillian but Indian, and she was then actually living on the Fulham Road in London. Caine managed to find her number, but Baksh rejected his calls 10 times before agreeing to meet him. “The last one she decided to go out with me…” the actor told news.com.au. “We went out and fell in love instantly, and have never parted since.” The couple got married in Las Vegas in 1973, and have one daughter, Natasha. 

Take a look back at the couple in the 1970s and 1980s through 15 intimate vintage photographs below:

1972. (Hulton)

1972. (Bertrand Rindoff Petroff)

1973. (Daily Mirror)

1973. (Lichfield)

1975. (Tom Wargacki)

1976. (Stanley Bielecki)

1976. (Hulton)

1977. (Mirrorpix)

1977. (Photoshot)

1979. (Robin Platzer)

1979. (Ron Galella)

1982. (Steve Schapiro)

1984. (Paul Harris)

1980s. (Robin Platzer)