Itishree on kissing, bikinis and more

by Vidhya Krishnan

Jun 10, 2008, Bangalore

We couldn't believe it when we heard that a kiss was being caught on tape on the popular daily family soap saga - Babul Ka Aangan Chootey Na! And, our antennas went up. An electrifying kiss between two co-actors is the first on TV…and after endless phone calls to Itishree, we finally caught up with the actress to get all the behind the scenes steamy action.

So is it true, was there a kissing scene?
The kiss was supposed to happen but it did not because my brother stopped it. The scene was planned such that to show as though the kiss would take place but actually not.

What was your reaction when you heard about the scene?
I was very nervous. I also was feeling very uncomfortable but later I was convinced that the scene would not happen.

What if it was real?
Oh my God! The moral police would hang me by my toes when it comes to the small screen. Movies – you can get away with steamy sequence, but our TV audience is conservative, closer and they also relate to you personally as compared to movies.

You had briefed Mehul to come soon so as to avoid retakes? Is it true?
I don't trust people very easily so I was scared that the kissing might actually happen. Hence I was cautious about it.

How did Adi Irani react to the scene?
Oh, Adi's a fantastic co-actor and our chemistry is very electrifying, if I may say so, without being misunderstood. I have no problems with him at all. And he's a veteran in such scenes, a fabulous actor, who knows when to get into the scene and when to get out. Nothing really unfazes him.

Did Adi know that you were nervous? What did he say?
I actually didn't show it out to him. Of course, he opined that such scenes are rare on the small screen and hoped that the small screen wasn't going the Bollywood way.

What is your take on having such scenes on TV? Is it to up the TRP's?

Definitely! Such scenes will get people curious. For instance there was this hype about a Bikini scene in Tashan and I was not interested to watch the movie but that scene got me curious to watch the movie.

But I do not mind if there are such scenes on TV. I have and I will not mind doing such scenes. It's finally about art. And, if you have a gorgeous body and you have worked very hard to get it, why not flaunt it. But then, movies are a different league all together. A bikini on the small screen would soar the TRP's to impossible heights. But, in the same breath, no producer is willing to risk the gamble.
https://www.tellywatch.com/Telly_News/Itishree/June-10-2008/I tishree-kiss-in-babul-ka-aangan.html