Jimmy refuses to kiss Nandana in Strangers
Noreen Aslam

BOMBAY—We have heard of heroines backing off and refusing to do kissing scenes in Bollywood. But according to the source on the sets of ‘Strangers’, surprisingly Jimmy Shergill backed out of the lip lock scene with Nandana Sen on the day of the shoot. According to reports, it was supposed to be a very emotional intimate moment between Jimmy and Nandana that culminates in the lip lock. Director Anand Rai had earlier explained to Jimmy about the scene which required the actors to kiss. Though the director was a bit skeptical whether Nandana would do it, he was apparently caught off guard when Jimmy refused to do it.
But director Anand Rai justifies his lead actor, “Though I had explained the scene, I understand that actor sometimes are not comfortable doing intimate scenes on screen. When I set out to make Strangers, I was clear that my film was about relationship. Therefore a kissing scene with Nandana or the semi-nude scene of Sonali Kulkarni, though important as the emotional turmoil the character goes, I was always flexible for options and pointers from the star cast.”
When Jimmy was asked for his reaction he clarified that, when he heard the initial narration from the director he was sure, it wasn’t a must do sequence in the film and made it clear that he didn’t want to do it. According to him even the director understood it and was cool about the whole issue. Lip lock or no lip lock in ‘Strangers’ seems like Jimmy Shergill joins the bandwagon of actors like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan who do not kiss on screen!! ‘Strangers’ produced by Sahara One Motion Pictures and is slotted to release on December 7th 2007.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Shergill takes his roles very seriously. The talented actor actually got drunk for a scene in Anand Rai’s forthcoming film Strangers. When asked about it, Jimmy says, “Yes, it was a montage sequence shot in a bungalow. Anand said he wanted a glazed look in my eyes and that can be done only if I had a few drinks during the scene. I told him I can’t drink during the day. But Anand was confident about what he wanted and insisted that I have a few drinks before I shoot the scene. The film was shot entirely in sync sound and hence I agreed. Only when I watched the film, I realised why Anand had insisted. I have that particular look which a man has after he is drunk.”
Jimmy says about his role, “I play a writer in the film. It is a very well-carved out character with amazing dialogues. What was more challenging was that I was performing with Kay Kay Menon and Sonali Kulkarni. It’s interesting to work with talented actors like them. We are working in BBD again and I am looking forward to that film too.”