Marathi actor Girija Oak has lifted the curtain on what really happens during the filming of romantic and intimate scenes—revealing that the process is far from the dreamy moments viewers see on screen. Speaking in an interview with Lallantop, the Jawan and Inspector Zende actor said such scenes are highly technical, often filmed without the co-star even being present.
Oak said people, especially women, frequently ask her how actors manage to create chemistry with strangers. She clarified that on set, there is no space for real emotion or attraction. “There are at least 100 eyes on you. Everything is technical. There is no room for any real feeling,” she explained.
Describing the environment, she said the air conditioners are switched off to avoid sound disturbance, leaving actors sweating under harsh lights. “There’s a mic attached to you, someone is drying your sweat with a hair dryer, someone else is adjusting your light using thermocol, and another is fixing your hair. With so many people staring and giving instructions, how can you romance?” she said.
Oak also demystified on-screen kissing scenes. “People ask what kissing on screen feels like. I said it feels like kissing cardboard. There can be no feeling. Everything is mechanical,” she revealed. She added that close-up shots are often filmed alone. “The other actor isn’t even there. You’re looking at a camera, a corner of a stand, or a piece of thermocol. I’ve had entire conversations with a black cloth.”
Girija Oak, who began her acting career in 2004, gained widespread recognition with the 2020 short film Quarter. She has appeared in notable projects including Taare Zameen Par (2007), Shor in the City (2010), Jawan (2023), and her recent Netflix outing Inspector Zende (2025).
More insights from the actor continue to spark conversations about the realities of on-screen intimacy and the technical craft behind creating cinematic romance.
