Meet actress who lost work for refusing intimate scenes, cried before on-screen kiss, then overshadowed star kid in…

This actress, popular for Heeramandi, lost many shows for her rule about no intimate scenes, cried when asked to kiss on screen

Television shows in India started on a very family-friendly and conservative note in the 80s. Shows like Hum Log and Buniyaad were as PG as one could get. It wasn’t until the last decade that some semblance of ‘bold’ content began to air on Hindi mainstream television. However, performing on-screen kisses on intimate scenes was still a task too big for many actors, some of whom even lost out on work because of this principle. One such actress is this recent OTT star, who has been a popular face on TV for years.

The actress who lost roles after refusing to do intimate scenes

Shruti Sharma has been a staple on Hindi television since 2018. The actress made her acting debut with the popular show Gathbandhan, in which she played an IPS officer. The role came to her after her triumph in India’s Next Superstars, where she finished third. This role was followed by her film debut with the 2019 Telugu release Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya and her first Bollywood film Pagglait. However, Shruti also lost several roles in these years. In a recent interview with the Times of India, Shruti revealed that she does not like to perform intimate scenes or kisses on screen. “I will not ever go bold on screen. Bold and intimate scenes are a complete no-no for me. I wouldn’t be able to do that on screen. I have left many projects because I felt that there was no need to go bold or intimate in that show,” she said. The actress, however, says she does not regret her choice.

Shruti Sharma’s OTT debut and critical acclaim

Earlier this year, Shruti made her streaming debut in a supporting role on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s maiden web series Heeramandi. Shruti played a maid in the kotha named Shama. Her performance and screen presence on the show was praised by fans and critics alike. In fact, many advocated her to be cast in a bigger role in the second season, saying she was even better than the lead actress Sharmin Segal, who played Alamzeb. Sharmin, the niece of director Bhansali, faced a lot of criticism and trolling for her performance in the show.

Even in Heermandi, Shruti’s character earlier had an on-screen kiss. The actress told TOI, “I was crying after reading the complete script of Heeramandi, as I had kissing scenes.” But eventually, Bhansali removed the scene after learning the actress was not comfortable with it. Shruti has now hinted at a return to TV saying she has received some good offers on the medium.