Model-turned-actress Sherlyn Chopra, who’s the only Indian woman to feature on the centrefold of the six-decade old Playboy magazine, on Thursday paid tribute to its founder Hugh Hefner. 

She took to her official Instagram account to not only share a picture but also to express her feelings about the entrepreneur,  who passed away on Wednesday due to natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills. 

Here’s what she posted: 

According to a report filed by Hindustan Times, Chopra had stayed for 11-days at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles for the photo shoot in 2012.

The much talked about shoot reportedly happened after her letter, in which she had expressed her desire of featuring on the magazine, was acknowledged by Hugh Hefner.   Recalling those days, Sherlyn told News 18 that the entire team of Hefner treated her well and she had the best time being his guest. 

“My Playboy cover shoot experience was nothing short of a paid luxury vacation. I was pampered by Mr Hefner’s staff and the crew. Barring the photographer, everybody in the team that did my cover shoot was a young woman with a mind of her own. None of them looked at me as an object or a thing but as a spiritual being in a beautiful, exotic body. To have met Mr Hefner at his magnificent mansion as his guest was quite exhilarating!,” she told the tabloid. 

“He was shy and very soft spoken. I found him to be a thorough gentleman, one who knows how to treat a lady with respect, warmth and benevolence,” Chopra added while talking about his personality. 

Before making headlines as Playboy cover girl, the Hyderabad-born starlet had participated in the third season of reality TV show Bigg Bogg in 2009 and the same year, Chopra was also reportedly called by the Playboy magazine to show up for a trial. However, she panicked and didn’t go. 

“I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it, if I’d be able to come back and live here in this country,” she had revealed in an old interview with The Hollywood Reporter. 

When the 33-year-old starlet featured nude on the centrefold of Playboy in 2012, the magazine still was banned in India and therefore, was only accessible on the internet. 

Earlier in 2004, it was reported by India Today that Mallika Sherawat has been offered to pose for the international magazine. However, the actress as per Bollywood Mantra was unavailable for any comments and her publicist stated that the opportunity might be rejected by her. 

Later, speculations were rife in 2009 that the actress was roped in for Playboy’s launch in India. But, it seemed to have never happened as even by then, it remained banned in the country. 

(Feature Image Source: Instagram)