Sharmila Tagore was a trendsetter and a path-breaking actress in the '60s. Be it her choice of films or breaking the glass ceiling with her stylish on-screen and off-screen avatars, she has been ruling for decades. On her first Koffee With Karan appearance in the ongoing 8th season, Sharmila addressed the uproar that was caused due to her famous bikini photoshoot for a magazine. 

In the latest episode of Koffee With Karan 8, Karan Johar hosted Sharmila and Saif Ali Khan. The filmmaker touched upon the topic of her photoshoot and how the photographer was anxious about it. Sharmila said, "Yes, the photographer was slightly worried. I just thought I looked very nice. What had really hurt me later was that everybody had interpreted in such a way, that I was upwardly mobile, I was trying to catch eyeballs. I didn't feel like that."

She further recalled having a chat with filmmaker Shakti Samanta, who gave her an earful for doing the bikini shoot. However, it was her husband, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as Tiger, who supported her. The veteran actress shared, "When it came out in Filmfare, I was in London. I was unaware (of the criticism), till Shaktiji called me and said, 'Will you come back quickly? Terrible things are happening here.' He gave me a dressing down. He said, 'If you want to be in the public eye, this is not the way to go.' I used to live alone and I was very upset with all these... completely opposite of what I thought would happen. So, I sent a telegram to Tiger. He said, 'I am sure you are looking very nice.' That was my support."

When Karan noted that Sharmila was one of the first actors to witness the ill effects of trolling, she added, "Totally, yes. I think questions were raised in the Parliament. It was not pleasant for me. But learning I did. And after that I was very careful. I chose Aradhana."