![\"Pooja](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131393851,imgsize-118858,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/pooja-aj_d.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPooja Bhatt<\/a> was one of the most outspoken and unconventional voices in Bollywood during the 1990s, often making headlines for her bold choices and candid opinions. Among the most talked-about moments of her career was her body paint magazine cover shoot, inspired by Demi Moore<\/a>\u2019s famous Vanity Fair cover.Though the image created a storm at the time, Pooja now says the intention behind the shoot was never to invite controversy.In a recent conversation with Vickey Lalwani, the actress looked back on the iconic photoshoot, the public reaction it received and the misconceptions that surrounded it.<\/p>\n Pooja revealed that the idea for the shoot came after journalist Dinesh Raheja introduced her to Demi Moore\u2019s celebrated magazine cover.\u201cI received a lot of flak from one section of people and a lot of love from another. But for me, it was never designed to be controversial,\u201d she said.Recalling the meeting, she added, \u201cDinesh Raheja, a journalist for whom I still have a great deal of respect, showed me the cover of Vanity Fair featuring Demi Moore. Jeetu and Dinesh came to meet me and said, \u2018Pooja, look at this cover.\u2019 I thought it was stunning. Demi Moore looked glorious. They said they wanted to recreate something similar and asked if I would do it. I said, \u2018Sure.\u2019 When I asked who would do the body painting, they said Anna Singh would.\u201d<\/p>\n The actress shared that the photoshoot took place after a long day of shooting for the song Tere Dar Par Sanam from Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee.\u201cI was shooting for the song Tere Dar Par Sanam from Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee. I finished work around 9.30 pm and then went to Jagdish Mali\u2019s house. They painted me and we did the shoot. After that, I completely forgot about it,\u201d she recalled.According to Pooja, the real frenzy began only after the magazine cover was published.\u201cThe magazine came out and there was mayhem. But then an unfortunate incident took place in the city. One of the most horrific tragedies happened \u2014 the bomb blasts. Naturally, people had far more important things to worry about than a woman who had chosen to paint her body.\u201d<\/p>\n Addressing assumptions that she posed nude for the shoot, Pooja clarified that she was not naked in the photograph.\u201cI was not naked in the photograph. In Demi Moore\u2019s case, the cover referred to a \u2018birthday suit\u2019, which meant she was naked underneath the paint. I was not. I was wearing underwear because we knew exactly where the line was and we chose not to cross it,\u201d she said.Pooja admitted that the image may have appeared daring for its time but insisted it was never done with the aim of creating outrage.\u201cI suppose it was audacious and unthinkable for many people. But I simply did it because I liked the idea that was presented to me. I trusted the people I was working with and went ahead with it. The idea was never to be controversial. It was just me being my authentic self.\u201d<\/p>\n Reflecting on the enduring legacy of the cover, Pooja said she finds it surprising that people still discuss the image decades later.\u201cVery recently, it was brought up again and people started calling it a cult image. But you can\u2019t create something like that by design. I was simply being my authentic self. The problem is that we are living in a world full of lies, so truth itself has become controversial today.\u201dThe memorable photograph was shot for Movie magazine. Designer Anna Singh handled the body painting, while noted photographer Jagdish Mali captured the now-iconic image.<\/div>\n\u2018Demi Moore looked glorious\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
The shoot happened after filming Tere Dar Par Sanam<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
\u2018We knew exactly where the line was\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
\u2018Truth itself has become controversial today\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n