Yudhra is set for a theatrical release on September 20.
Malavika Mohanan reveals there was no intimacy coordinator on Yudhra. However, she stresses on their importance to create a safe space on a film set.
The sizzling chemistry between Siddhant Chaturvedi and Malavika Mohanan in the Yudhra trailer has caught the attention of many. The song Saathiya, released earlier this month, offers a glimpse of their scintillating love story. As seen in the video, the actors are seen romancing and cozying up to each other against the backdrop of the pristine ocean. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Malavika opens up about shooting the intimate scenes with Siddhant and reiterates how filming them is no easy task.
While there was no intimacy coordinator on the sets of Yudhra, Malavika emphasises the importance of having one to create a safe space for actors. She says, “It’s not easy to crack intimacy and be comfortable with it. Nowadays, they have intimacy coordinators on set, which is a very good thing. It’s important to know boundaries. The process of intimacy isn’t as simple as just doing it. Coordinators are making it easier.”
However, a bigger challenge arose while filming Saathiya. Talking about it, she says, “More than the intimacy, what we were concerned about was the cold while shooting for the song. In that video, we had to shoot a couple of intimate moments where we had to kiss. We were against the waves, completely drenched, and it was freezing! The last thing on our minds was kissing.”
The Thangalaan and Master actor adds, “When we were close to each other, we were like, ‘Are we done? It’s so cold!’ It was funny (laughs). Most of the behind-the-scenes moments of kissing are goofy and funny. It’s also very technical—you have to be aware of the angles. It’s a lot about give and take and being sensitive to each other in that moment.”
Having said that, Yudhra, which marks her Bollywood debut, and Saathiya, in particular, will always remain close to her heart as it allowed her to live her dream. “The video of Saathiya is so quintessentially Bollywood. It has a beach, larger-than-life romance, and slow-motion shots. I was in a bikini and sarong, and he was in an open white shirt, running towards each other. I’ve grown up watching my favorite actors and actresses romance in a similar fashion. That was an overwhelming moment,” Malavika smiles.
What made shooting for the film even more special was her Yudhra co-star. Lauding Siddhant and his action prowess, she says, “He has done all the action sequences really well. I enjoyed watching him. He did a fantastic job. His body language and timing are great. I’ve seen him do long action sequences. The technicalities of action are so nuanced. You have to get the fake punches, fake hits, and fake kicks right, and I’ve seen him do 10-15 moves in one shot in a single go!”
