FilmArea.NeT

The Hindi film industry has come a long way from the days when
a kiss between the male and female lead in a film was
represented by two flowers meeting and intimacy was suggested
by lights being switched off or a setting sun.

But the box-office failure of films with above-average adult
content coupled with a series of diktats against public and
on-screen displays of intimacy may lead filmmakers to put sex
back into the closet.

A peck on Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty’s cheek by Hollywood
star Richard Gere has somehow labelled them as offenders
deserving court arrests. Likewise, internationally known star
Aishwarya Rai has been summoned to explain an “obscene” kissing
scene in Dhoom 2 in a Muzaffarpur court in Bihar on May 30.

Her co-star Hrithik Roshan and the owners of a cinema, which
screened the action flick, have also been summoned.

Not too long ago an Israeli couple that married in India was
fined $22 (Dh81) for indecency caused by their wedding embrace
in a holy town.

Priests were offended when the couple kissed and hugged during
the chanting of religious verses. The apologetic couple said
they were unaware public kissing is banned.

A university in Pune also made news when it enacted a ban on
kissing, hand holding or even cuddling on its campus.

Back in the real world, upcoming actor Emraan Hashmi, who was
once better known as “kissing king”, has decided he will quit
smooching on-screen. Other Bollywood actors have also decided
to give up steamy scenes in real life.

The first one to join Emraan’s “non-kissing” league is newcomer
Kiran Jhanjani, who requested his director to delete a long
lip-locking scene with actress Malishka in forthcoming film
Sitam.

Another actor in the making, Arjun Punj, refused to give lip
service to bombshell Mona Chopra in Time Pass.

And it’s not only the male breed but female actresses too are
ready to skip steamy scenes. While established actresses are
known to object to steamy scenes or ask for a body double, even
beginners like Maushami Udeshi are known to have said no to a
real kiss.

In fact, the proverbial sex bombs of Bollywood have sobered
down even as some actresses from the top league have slipped
into sexy bikinis.

Neha Dhupia, Mallika Sherawat, Payal Rohatgi and Celina Jaitley
are among those looking for “acting-oriented” roles only. Rakhi
Sawant is still doing her jiggling and booty shaking. But then,
who wants to see her anymore?

Consider this. No skin flick has managed to put the cash
registers on fire since 2005. Even films with heavy doses of
cleavage and skin show are dodgy about sex.

Actors in Hindi films look supremely uncomfortable doing
intimate scenes. Some films play safe by showing only dark
outlines of the couple in bed like Parinda, Freaky Chakra and
Maqbool.

“Our filmmakers were trying to incorporate sex scenes when
actors don’t seem to be ready for them. Sure, we should change
with the changing times. But wouldn’t it make better sense for
filmmakers to make sure the actors are set to play the part
convincingly rather than fumble through it,” said commentator
Deepa Gehlot.