The calendar marks July 6th as International Kissing Day. It’s a day for celebrating affection, a tradition that began in the United Kingdom and spread globally in the early 2000s. In cinema, a kiss can be a powerful moment, telling a story of passion or deep connection. Yet, for some stars, an on-screen kiss has led to unexpected drama. One famous actress faced legal trouble simply for performing a kiss in a movie.
Bollywood, the vibrant film industry, is no stranger to on-screen kisses. Many movies feature such scenes as a natural part of their storytelling. Some actors even became known for them. Think of Emraan Hashmi, often called a “serial kisser” early in his career, or Mallika Sherawat. Actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt have also shared kisses on screen. But it’s rare to hear of an actor getting a legal notice for a scene. That’s exactly what happened to Aishwarya Rai.
Her film, “Dhoom 2,” sparked quite a stir because of multiple kissing scenes with co-star Hrithik Roshan. The controversy wasn’t just chatter. Aishwarya Rai revealed in an interview with Daily Mail that she actually received legal notices. She expressed her surprise, saying it became a major issue.
The legal notice itself was quite direct. It questioned her choices, stating, “You are famous, an example for our girls. You have lived your life well. People are not comfortable with you doing such a thing on screen, so why did you do it?” It seems viewers expected her to uphold a certain image.
Aishwarya shared her thoughts on the situation. She pointed out that while many actors have kissed on screen and continue to do so, public displays of affection are not common in the local culture. She also noted that even in cinema, actors themselves often feel uncomfortable with kissing scenes. This highlights a tricky balance between artistic expression and societal expectations.
Despite this past controversy, Aishwarya Rai continues to shine. Audiences last saw her in “Ponniyin Selvan 2.” This Tamil historical action-drama was directed by Mani Ratnam. The film featured a large cast including Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Sobhita Dhulipala, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Vikram Prabhu. Critics praised Aishwarya’s performance in the movie.
