Kahaani Kiss Ki – When An Actress Kisses An Actor

To kiss or not to kiss is no longer the question. It has changed to – who kissed whom. And if it a woman taking that initiative: heavens forgive her!

A while back, I happened to be on a movie date with my husband. Luckily, not only was the movie extremely romantic but my teenaged son also refused to join us, owing to his exams.

Of course, most Bollywood movies do have a kissing scene now. And my spouse and I are among those who have lauded Bollywood actors and film makers to have the courage to express romance, sex and even homosexuality.

Who kissed whom?

All night long, I thought about what he said. I mean, my husband is an educated, liberated man. Both of us are employed and he happily helps me with the domestic chores. In fact, he is a better cook than I am. I can safely say that I am fortunate to not have been a victim of patriarchy. My parents and even my in-laws are quite cool too.

Then why, did he feel that it was the actress who was the serial kisser? Was kissing all on her own? Wasn’t her male counterpart just as involved in the kiss? I am pretty sure that the script writer and the director were males too. Trust me, this isn’t a sole incident. Recently, on a popular web series, there was a lip lock. My brother, too, passed a similar comment about that, as if the kiss was the woman’s sole responsibility.

He can kiss, she can’t

I am talking about young, modern, educated men here. These men are the ones who treat all women well and with respect. But it is the stigma that surprises me- that girls from respectable families don’t drink, smoke or even mingle with men. If touching men wasn’t bold enough, they are now kissing them too! All this was a big no no. At the same time, the counterpart could kiss anyone he liked. The man was never to blame, even in today, in the 21st century. And in modern, liberated families like mine.

I wonder if and how this mentality would ever change. Would my young son pass a similar comment as well? I wait, as more leading ladies bear the heat of on-screen lip locks.

Never miss real stories from India's women.

Register Now

Picture credits: Still from Bollywood movie Jab We Met

Comments