Sridevi, one of the most celebrated actresses in Indian cinema, was known not just for her incredible talent but also for standing by her personal values. She created her own path in the film industry and even had strict rules when it came to acting. One of her most well-known rules was her no kissing policy in movies. She believed in keeping her boundaries clear, even when working with the biggest stars or directors.
Born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, Sridevi acted in several languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Over her long and successful career, she earned the title of India’s first female superstar. She gave blockbuster hits like Mr. India, Chandni, Sadma, and many more. Her talent was recognized with several awards, including the National Film Award and the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors.
But despite her fame, Sridevi never changed her principles. In a 1992 interview with Filmfare, she spoke honestly about a disturbing experience related to a kissing scene with Mithun Chakraborty in the film Guru. Even though she had clearly refused to do any kissing scenes, the director of the movie, Umesh Mehra, used camera tricks to make it seem like she kissed Mithun. To make matters worse, he later claimed that Sridevi herself had done the scene.
Talking about it, Sridevi said, “The kissing scene in Guru was a nightmare. Someone else’s lips were shown for the kiss, even though I had said no to even a stand-in. My parents watched the film and were very upset. That was one of my worst experiences in the film industry.”
This experience deeply affected her and made her even more firm about her no-kissing rule. She even refused a kissing scene when director Shekhar Kapur asked her to do one. Sridevi stood her ground and Kapur respected her decision.
She explained her choice, saying, “I really don’t know why I should kiss someone I don’t know. Others may do it, but I can’t.”
In the same interview, Sridevi also spoke about how uncomfortable she felt doing rape scenes in films. She shared that many actresses in those days had to do such scenes as part of their roles, but she found them disturbing.
Sridevi said, “Rape scenes are also a headache. I’ve had to do a couple because it was common for heroines. You have to scream and shout, and you get hurt when your bangles break. Thank God there’s been a slowdown on rape scenes nowadays.”
Sridevi was more than just a glamorous star — she was a powerful woman who stayed true to herself in an industry that often demanded compromise. She passed away in February 2018, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of actors and fans.
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