‘Are we going to use tongue?’: Vishal Bhardwaj recalls awkward intimate scene, reveals why Lust Stories 3 was easier
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Shooting an intimate scene in a web show or movie is never easy and requires filmmakers and actors to tread the boundary carefully. Of late, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj , who has directed one of the segments of the anthology Lust Stories 3, starring Siddharth and Aditi Rao Hydari , spoke about filming intimate scenes for the show.
Adding to this, Aditi Rao Hydari in a still from Lust Stories 3. The filmmaker spoke about the importance of having an intimacy director on set and shared the presence of one is “incredible”. He explained that it liberates the filmmaker and makes such scenes much more comfortable to shoot. Bhardwaj admitted that, before intimacy directors became a part of movie sets, shooting intimate scenes could be awkward. He shared intimacy directors 'make life comfortable on set'.
Meanwhile, Bhardwaj shared that before the concept of intimacy directors became common in Bollywood, it could be awkward for filmmakers and actors to handle such situations. Recalling one such instance, he told Variety India, “I remember actresses coming to me and asking, ‘Sir, are we going to use tongue in this? Can you ask the male star?’ I mean, it’s very odd. I did ask the star her question. Can you imagine how awkward that would be?”
Notably, Apart from having an intimacy director on set, what made shooting Lust Stories 3 easier was Bhardwaj directing real-life couple Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth in an intimate story.
As per the latest buzz, Bhardwaj admitted that the two were comfortable with each other on set and, in one instance, even refused to use body doubles. He shared, “They were very comfortable with each other, of course, you know, because they are husband and wife. So 50% of that awkwardness went away. We had doubles for both of them. So in one shot, you know, we had the camera on her legs, and Siddharth had to crawl. When Aditi saw it, she shared, ‘But my legs are not so fat.’”
In further updates, The filmmaker shared that Aditi insisted on performing the shot herself, while Siddharth also stepped in to perform his part.
On top of that, Lust Stories 3 is the third instalment of the Netflix anthology franchise. The movie features four stories directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, and Vishal Bhardwaj. The anthology explores different aspects of love, relationships, desire and intimacy. It also features other actors including Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma, Ali Fazal, Radhika Madan and others.
Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times