How Bollywood Pioneered Bold Romantic Scenes in Indian Cinema
Bollywood has always been at the forefront of romantic and intimate storytelling in Indian cinema. Over the years, the industry’s approach to such scenes has influenced film-making across the country, inspiring other regional industries to embrace similar content.
In the past, intimate scenes were rare and considered daring. A film including them often generated curiosity and widespread attention. These sequences helped movies reach a broader audience, making them stand out. Over time, Bollywood continued to push boundaries while refining the way romance and intimacy were portrayed on screen.
A notable example is the 1988 film Janbaaz, directed by Firoz Khan, starring Anil Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia. The film included a close-up romantic scene filmed in a farmhouse. Although the actors were briefed beforehand, Dimple Kapadia reportedly felt uneasy when Anil Kapoor unbuttoned his shirt for the scene. Initially, she refused to perform, insisting the shot couldn’t be filmed without changes. The director had to negotiate and convince her to proceed, reflecting how actors of that era were cautious about intimate content.
This contrasts sharply with today’s cinema, where actors approach such scenes with greater professionalism and comfort. Modern audiences also expect these sequences as part of storytelling, whether in Bollywood or South Indian cinema. Songs, romantic close-ups, and bedroom sequences are now integrated naturally into plots, shaping the narrative without appearing out of place.
Bollywood’s pioneering of intimate scenes has not only modernised storytelling but also encouraged other film industries to evolve. South Indian cinema, for instance, increasingly incorporates bold romantic moments, showing the widespread influence of Bollywood’s style.
From Dimple Kapadia’s cautious approach in the late 1980s to today’s confident performances, the evolution of intimate scenes in Indian cinema highlights a broader shift in both audience acceptance and industry practices. It underscores Bollywood’s role as a trendsetter in redefining romance on the big screen.
