Balancing Art and Boundaries: Actresses on navigating intimate scenes with grace | Hindi Movie News

Filming intimate scenes in cinema is a complex process that demands both technical precision and emotional sensitivity. Several renowned actresses have spoken candidly about their experiences, highlighting the challenges and considerations involved.
The landscape has evolved significantly compared to earlier times, when actresses were heavily scrutinised and clips of such scenes were often circulated with malicious intent. Today, a growing section of the audience views these scenes as an integral part of storytelling, appreciating them from an artistic perspective.
Over the years, debates have emerged—were these scenes simply camera tricks, or were they performed authentically by the actors? While many male actors have remained tight-lipped about their experiences, some actresses have come forward to discuss how they navigated such scenes with maturity and the support of their male counterparts. From Deepika Padukone to Bhumi Pednekar and Radhika Apte, several actresses have opened up about how they approached intimate scenes and how the comfort provided by their co-actors contributed to the professionalism of the portrayal.
Deepika Padukone on ‘Gehraiyaan’
In an earlier interview with ETimes, Deepika Padukone was asked about authentically portraying her character’s emotions in Gehraiyaan, including the physical aspects of love.

She stated, “I won’t attribute it to age or gender. If that’s something happening in general, then fine. But I wouldn’t say that younger filmmakers or female directors have a specific sensibility—I believe it varies from person to person.”
Deepika credited director Shakun Batra for creating a safe environment for the actors. She admitted she would have declined the scenes if another director had approached her. “If Gehraiyaan wasn’t in the hands of a director like Shakun, I either wouldn’t have done the film, or I wouldn’t have been able to submit to it in the way I did. If the director had insisted on doing things a certain way, I would’ve probably excused myself. What we were able to do in this film was largely due to the comfort and trust I had in him. When there’s intimacy, it’s not meant to titillate or excite—it stems from the characters’ emotional journey and what the story requires.”
She further added during the trailer launch in 2022, “Shakun gave all of us a sense of safety and security. Intimacy is not easy; it’s something rarely explored in Indian cinema as it was in this film. You can only go down that road of vulnerability when you know the director isn’t chasing eyeballs but focusing on the characters’ emotional truth.”
Bhumi Pednekar on ‘Lust Stories’
In Lust Stories, Bhumi Pednekar portrayed a domestic helper caught in a complicated relationship. Recalling her experience, she admitted feeling nervous during the intimate scene with Neil Bhoopalam.
“When I did Lust Stories, I was nervous. It involved a full-throttle orgasm, and at that time, we didn’t have an intimacy coordinator. It was the most exposed I’d ever been in a room full of people. Although we had technical protection and the scene was well-planned, Neil and I still had to sit down and discuss our boundaries. That conversation between your director, co-actor, and yourself is extremely important because once you’re in the moment, it’s no different,” she told Bollywood Hungama.
Radhika Apte on ‘Parched’
Radhika Apte opened up about her discomfort while filming intimate scenes in Leena Yadav’s Parched (2015). “It wasn’t easy—I was grappling with my own body image issues at the time. So, having to be nude on screen was intimidating. Now, I’m comfortable baring it all. I’m proud of my shape and size. I needed a role like this because, in Bollywood, you’re constantly told what to do with your body. I always maintained I wouldn’t alter my body or face,” she told ETimes.

She also spoke about performing such scenes without the guidance of an intimacy coordinator. “People do get exploited. And honestly, the exploiters may not always be aware of their actions. It’s ingrained in them. So, it’s not only the victims who need awareness—the ones overstepping boundaries do too. They need to realise their actions are inappropriate,” she said in an interview with Bollywood Hungama.
Radhika shared an incident where she agreed to a scene under pressure, trusting the artistic vision. However, the way it was executed later made her uncomfortable. While she and the director didn’t initially see the issue, her agents were alarmed, prompting her to reassess the situation. She reflected that if she’d heard the same story from someone else, she’d have immediately flagged it as inappropriate. This made her realise how easily awareness can be lacking in the moment, underscoring the importance of clear boundaries in professional settings.

Aaditi Pohankar on Aashram 3
Actress Aaditi Pohankar, who shared intimate scenes with Bobby Deol in ‘Aashram 3’, spoke about how their rapport grew due to the understanding they developed during filming.
“I think Bobby Sir and I are now very close. He even called me after the season’s release. At first, there was some distance—he was Bobby Sir—but it lasted only about five days. After that, it felt like we’d known each other for ages. Or maybe I’m just overwhelmed with affection,” she told ETimes, speaking about the camaraderie that helps actors deliver such performances.
She also recalled a behind-the-scenes moment: “In the first part of the third season, I met Bobby Sir for the first time on the day of a very intense scene—his character had raped Pammi, and her father was dying. I wasn’t sure how to rehearse with him, so I began reacting to him in character. Turns out, he thought I was giving him strange looks! For the next few days, he avoided me. Eventually, I asked him, ‘Sir, what’s wrong? Did I upset you?’ He replied, ‘Yeah, why were you looking at me like that?’ I was shocked and explained I was just rehearsing! Thankfully, the misunderstanding was cleared in a few days.”
In a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Aaditi shared that working with Bobby Deol felt like a task at first, as he was surprised by how relaxed she was on set while doing a rape scene. In contrast, with Chandan Roy Sanyal, their scenes involved spontaneous improvisation and fun. She added that while she could surprise Chandan during scenes, she couldn’t manage to shock Bobby the same way
Anupria Goenka on Feeling Violated During Intimate Scenes
Actress Anupria Goenka, known for her work in ‘Padmaavat, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, and ‘War 2′, recently opened up about feeling “violated” during intimate scenes, underlining the essential role of intimacy coordinators in protecting actors’ boundaries.
Speaking to Siddharth Kannan on YouTube, she recalled a moment when a co-star’s overzealousness made her uncomfortable. Instead of supporting her at the waist, he placed his hands lower than needed. She subtly repositioned his hands and asked him not to move them again, hesitant to question him outright for fear it would be dismissed as accidental.

Anupria also pointed out that some actors approach on-screen kissing scenes aggressively, lacking the tenderness that’s often more appropriate. Her experiences reflect the pressing need for intimacy coordinators to ensure scenes are handled with care and professionalism.
These personal insights reveal that behind the seemingly seamless portrayal of intimacy on screen lies a meticulous process rooted in trust, communication, and respect. They also highlight the urgent need for trained intimacy coordinators—professionals who can ensure actors’ comfort and safety while maintaining the integrity of the narrative.