Kissa Kiss (Ki and) Ka, writes Sarita A Tanwar

Is Ki And Ka the first Hindi poster which features the lead couple kissing? After Hrs columnist and trivia junkie Sajid Khan shouts: Of course not! And sends me the poster of Shalimaar (1978) starring Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman with the lead pair kissing. In the last few decades, we have seen many actors — of same sex and opposite — lock lips on screen. Have you ever wondered why even though smooches are very much part of the trailer, never make it to the poster? It’s because actors don’t want smooch pictures to go out as publicity material because it lasts for posterity. Screen grabs from videos don’t are not often clear, when printed. I know... odd logic.

Which is why I feel that the Ki And Ka poster is a big deal, even though it is just a peck and not a open-mouthed kiss. Married couple Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan are seen smooching many times in the trailer. Lets hope they kept a timer ready. because you know It’s the same Censor Board that trimmed Daniel Craig’s amorous interactions with Bond girls Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux in Spectre that will be certifying their film as well.

Kissing has always a big deal in Hindi film. There are still some actresses who state proudly that they will never kiss on screen for reasons like “I come from a respected family” and “I am in a relationship.” I’ve always found this odd. An actor has to do everything that the character demands. Except when it comes to nudity, but that’s just me. Someone else might disagree. How can an actor lay down conditions like: ‘I will do this and I will not do that?’ I can understand when actors like Ali Zafar, who hails from Pakistan, refused to do steamy scenes with their leading ladies. They would probably cancel his visa back home. For a scene in London, Paris, New York, he refused to kiss Aditi Rao Hydari, so a body double had to be called. Since she was not comfortable with a stranger, she called on her ex-husband who stepped in to do the needful. A little cheating was involved, but the scene was shot successfully. Now if all actresses could get away with kissing the ones they are comfortable with, they would all do it too.

One actress told me how she almost puked while doing the kissing scene. She wasn’t getting along with her co-star and they had to get hot and heavy for a scene. To make her uncomfortable, he would eat raw onions for lunch before they shot the intimate scenes. She was nauseated, but did the scene nevertheless. Another time, the same actress had to do a kissing scene with a co-star who had a awful cold and a runny nose. It does make a good case for the no-kiss clause for actresses, no?

A couple of years ago, the Internet was ablaze over a video of strangers having a first kiss. Why would anyone want their first kiss to be with a stranger is something I don’t understand. And then have it filmed for posterity? That’s a little sad. The first kiss should always be with someone you love. Or at least think it is love at the time. Speaking of the first kiss photographed, it was between two models — two female models to be precise. According to an article online, Thomas Edison is responsible for the very first on-screen kiss in cinema, featuring Canadian actress May Irwin in 1896. It was a mere 23 seconds in length (this should please censor members).
Leonardo DiCaprio is a vegetarian but actually ate bison meat for a scene in The Revenant. He first tried the scene with mock meat. And then decided that it wasn’t working and went ahead and ate raw liver. The puke in the scene is real. But he might just win an Oscar for it. And when he kisses that trophy, it will be worth it.