Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore has reflected on her iconic Filmfare bikini cover and said she has no regrets about the bold decision.
According to Filmfare.com, she also clarified that she made the choice herself.
She revisited the moment during an appearance at We The Women. She described the cover as one of the most defining and unconventional moments of her career. The image remains widely discussed in Indian pop culture.
Sharmila Tagore dismissed long-standing claims that the photoshoot served as a publicity stunt. She said she suggested the idea herself during the shoot. She explained that photographer Dheeraj Chawla planned the session, and she proposed wearing a bikini.
She said, “It was actually my idea. The photographer, Dheeraj Chawla, wanted to do a photoshoot, and I suggested, ‘Why not a bikini?’ It was entirely my decision, and I can’t put it on anybody else. I simply thought it would look nice.”
She said the public reaction surprised her. She described the backlash as intense and said it felt like a “bikini bomb.” She added that many people believed she used the cover for publicity and commercial gain. She firmly denied that intention.
She also recalled how the controversy affected her professionally. She approached filmmaker Shakti Samanta during that period and felt disheartened by the reaction. She said he advised her on how actresses should behave if they wanted respect in the industry. She listened but did not change her approach.
She said, “You learn from your mistakes, but I don’t regret doing it.” She also highlighted that timing matters in the film industry.
Sharmila Tagore credited her husband, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, for supporting her during the controversy. She said she sent him a telegram while he was in London for cricket. His reply reassured her. He wrote, “You must be looking nice.”
She said his response meant a lot to her. She added that he always supported her. She said she remains comfortable with the cover when she looks back at it today.
