Questions about intimate scenes can be awkward for actors. Too often, people equate what happens on screen with reality. Actresses may not be cast in ‘good girl’ roles in future, regardless of their real life values. And some actors (like GV Prakash on the eve of Trisha Illana Nayantara‘s release) feel they’ve won bragging rights because a woman was paid to do these scenes with them.
The generic response from celebrities is to say it’s like doing any other scene, with its own specific set of challenges.
In fact, when Priyanka Chopra was asked about shooting sex scenes for Quantico by the New York Times, she admitted it was “awkward,” but added that “when it comes to Indian films, we are very progressive in the way we shoot Indian movies and what we show in Indian movies now.” For her, the real challenge was mastering the American accent, not doing an erotic scene.
And so, it was a shock for fans to hear Ranbir Kapoor’s response to a similar question about doing scenes with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil co-star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. His response was that he decided to “take advantage” of the opportunity.
The comment was not only unprofessional and inappropriate, but comes at a time when Aishwarya Rai is reportedly facing flak from her family for those very scenes. At the recent Jio MAMI Festival in Mumbai, Jaya Bachchan was strongly critical of contemporary Bollywood films, in what many considered an indirect criticism of Aishwarya’s role in ADHM. Jaya Bachchan said, “Earlier, there used to be a vamp and a heroine. But now, there is no need for a vamp because the heroine does exactly what a vamp does. She wears itsy bitsy clothes and dances, does item songs.”
When all he had to do was say sorry. For making a joke in poor taste, about a female colleague already under pressure for doing intimate scenes, and thereby dishonouring her family. Pressure male actors rarely face.
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Hollywood actors have responded in varied ways to similar questions about life on sets during a sex scene. From “It’s really hot – not in a steamy, sexual way. It’s just sweaty and not very comfortable” (Dakota Johnson), to “You’re with 100-something crew members, lighting you, re-positioning you. There’s no comfort whatsoever” (Mila Kunis), to “I’ve always enjoyed sex scenes, though you’re not really supposed to” (Hugh Grant), and “the second you stop making it about you and you make it about everyone else, it just gets, dare I say, fun.” (Anne Hathaway).
Indian actors do typically have to toe a more conservative line. But many have found graceful and, at times, humorous ways of talking about them. And usually, it involves a tip of the hat to their acting colleague.
Ranveer Singh equated the kissing in Befikre to a hug, and called it an “an act of love.” When asked about scenes with Arjun Kapoor for Ishaqzaade, Parineeti Chopra said it was like any emotional scene: “As a girl I feel he is my actor, he is not my boyfriend or husband so you feel little awkward….when you shoot for it the actor in front of you may seem like a wall as intimate scenes becomes clinical.” And Parched star Radhika Apte said that co-star Adil Hussein joked his way through his scenes. He even “told her he’s sorry if he gets a hard-on and if he doesn’t.”
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In contrast, in a candid interview with a radio channel, Ranbir Singh said he initially felt shy, but that Aishwarya asked him to do it properly, reminding him that they were acting at the end of the day. Instead of acknowledging her assistance in helping him stay focused on the scene, Ranbir said, “Then I thought, I will never get a chance like this again. And so I completely made use of the opportunity.” (“Tabhi maine socha, kabhi aisa mauka milega nahi, so maine bhi mauke pe chauka maar diya!”)
Now, in a statement, the actor has clarified that his comments “in a radio interview were in bad taste.” He also revealed that he is hurt by how “a candid conversation has been blown out of context and sensationalised into headlines and stories.”
“Aishwarya is such a superb actor and also a family friend. She’s one of India’s most talented and respected women. I will be forever grateful to her for her contribution to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. I could not have disrespected her like that!” the 34-year-old actor said. [Emphasis added]
If only Ranbir had said, “I should not have disrespected her like that!”
Since clearly, he did.
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Of all the controversies that have erupted around this Karan Johar film, this one is easily the silliest.
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First it was Kamaal R Khan alleging that that he was paid by Johar to promote the film and bash its competitor, Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay. Then, Johar and his team had to pay a Rs 5 crore ‘penance’ to buy themselves a protest-free release from a right-wing vigilante outfit, because the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan was deemed unpatriotic by the MNS. An act Indian army veterans condemned, for setting a dangerous precedent in civil society.
ADHM eventually released on October 28 to mixed reviews.
Heroes are often larger than their screen characters in Indian films. When fans watch ADHM, there’s one thing many will wonder – Couldn’t Ranbir Singh have been even a little more heroic towards his co-star in real life?
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