The Hindi film industry is changing the way it shoots its most vulnerable scenes. For decades, Bollywood relied on trust, suggestion and careful camera angles to handle intimacy. Now, a small group of intimacy coordinators is bringing the same planning mindset to intimate scenes that stunt teams bring to action sequences.
From improvisation to a step-by-step plan
Aastha Khanna, one of the coordinators working in Bollywood, says an intimate scene is now mapped before cameras roll. Like a stunt director with a fight, she told AFP: “we map out exactly where the hand goes and where the hair goes.” That means boundaries are set in advance and performers do not have to improvise a vulnerable moment.
Coordinators also arrive with what are called modesty tools. A typical kit includes crotch guards, nipple pasties and doughnut cushions that keep a safe distance between performers while they simulate intimacy.
Why streaming changed the equation
The shift follows years of pressure after the #MeToo movement and the rise of streaming platforms. For decades, kissing and sex were implied symbolically—flowers brushing, crashing waves or a fire standing in for desire. But OTT storytelling has pushed into more realistic territory, and the old trust-based method no longer feels safe enough.
Gehraiyaan, backed by Karan Johar and released on Amazon Prime Video in 2022, was among the first mainstream Hindi productions to formalise intimacy direction. Khanna set personal boundaries and choreographed scenes, while intimacy coach Neha Vyaso conducted workshops on physical dynamics and consent.
Mirzapur, the crime drama known for its graphic content, began without such specialists. Actor Rasika Dugal, who leads the series, said early seasons left performers to navigate boundaries individually. Coordinators, she said, are “very important” so that “nobody is violated in any way.”
Consent is now part of the prep
- Coordinators are increasingly hired before casting begins, so actors can decide whether they are comfortable with intimate scenes before signing on.
- They choreograph touch, movement and distance, taking pressure off actors to improvise in a vulnerable moment.
- Their role goes beyond romance: Khanna says intimate scenes can include violence, dominance, harassment and nudity.
A long way from industry standard
The profession remains small: just over a dozen coordinators work across Indian film and television. There are no formal guidelines requiring one, and some experienced directors continue to manage intimate scenes themselves. In many commercial blockbusters, major stars avoid explicit intimacy or kissing, so coordinators have less scope.
Still, some in the industry hope film associations will eventually adopt industry-wide rules. Until then, hiring a coordinator depends on the production.
What it means for fans
For viewers, this work is largely invisible, but it shapes what appears on screen. Safer sets let actors take on complex, honest roles without fear, and they help Hindi cinema tell stories that used to be skipped or softened. When a scene lands, part of the craft behind it is now professional care, not just gut trust.
Source: Hindustan Times