What made Katrina Kaif say YES to her first-ever on-screen kiss with Hrithik Roshan: "He was a sleeping..."

Fifteen years after Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara became a defining friendship film for Bollywood, one of its most memorable romantic moments has got a new story attached to it. Zoya Akhtar recently revealed what went into Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan's much-talked-about kiss, including how Katrina agreed to the scene despite it being her first on-screen kiss.

Why Katrina Said Yes To Her First On-Screen Kiss

The kiss between Hrithik's Arjun and Katrina's Laila arrives towards the end of the 2011 film. While it may seem like a straightforward romantic beat, Zoya revealed that the moment was written into the story for a specific reason.

At the time, Katrina had never kissed a co-star on screen. However, after reading the script, she understood why the scene mattered to Laila and agreed to do it. Zoya recalled Katrina telling her, "I understand you need it for the screenplay."

For Zoya, Laila was someone who lived freely and acted on instinct. The kiss was meant to capture exactly that side of her while also pushing Arjun out of his emotionally closed-off state. Explaining the dynamic, Zoya compared them to a fairytale where Laila is the one who wakes up the sleeping beauty.

Zoya Refused To Force A Hrithik-Katrina Song

Interestingly, the kiss wasn't the only thing Zoya's team was expected to make happen. With Hrithik and Katrina sharing the screen for the first time, their respective management teams wanted the pair to have a full-fledged romantic song.

Zoya, however, didn't want to add a song simply because it would be commercially exciting. She considered different ideas, including placing Katrina in the Senorita sequence or having Arjun imagine Laila on the beach. None of them worked within the story, so she let the idea go.

It was a creative gamble, but one that helped keep ZNMD focused on its characters rather than star power.

ZNMD 2 Is In The Works, But Zoya Is Taking Her Time

The nostalgia around Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara could soon get another chapter. Zoya has confirmed that she and Reema Kagti are working on a possible sequel, although the film isn't locked yet.

The biggest challenge is bringing Arjun, Kabir and Imran back after 15 years and finding a story that genuinely makes sense for who they are today. Zoya said they are working on it, but want to reach a point where revisiting the characters feels right.

If ZNMD 2 eventually happens, fans may finally get to see where the lives of the three unforgettable friends have taken them.