Pooja Bhatt Opens Up About Being The 'Intimacy Coordinator' For Bipasha Basu In Jism, Reveals How She Directed The Scenes

The term 'intimacy coordinator' might be something unheard of in Bollywood, or the Indian film industry broadly, but the concept exists very much in the West. But Pooja Bhatt, in her recent interview, has revealed that she has tried to be one much before the term came into existence for the films that she has directed- especially the erotic thriller Jism that had Bipasha Basu and John Abraham in the lead.

Talking to BBC, the actress and director revealed what she had told Bipasha during the filming of the intimate scenes and what measures she took to ensure that the actress was comfortable. She said, "For intimate scenes, I handpick the crew who won't make an actress feel uncomfortable on the set because it's important to have the gaze right. In 2002, when I was making Jism, an erotic thriller, I told Bipasha Basu that as a woman and as an actor I won't be asking you to do anything you're not comfortable with. The film had no nudity, but there was un-held-back sexuality, she had to seduce John Abraham. I told her it has to be convincing, you can't be awkward or hesitant, but you decide how far you want to go."

She also added that she shared a similar understanding with the director of her latest series Bombay Begums, Alankrita Srivastava. Pooja revealed, "Alankrita and I discussed in great detail how we were going to do the intimate scenes. We trusted each other, we trusted the director and the co-stars. I didn't go home feeling icky or soiled." Pooja also felt that there has been a 'tectonic shift from earlier times' now since few networks insist on having an intimacy co-ordinator.