An old interview of Malayalam and Tamil actor Rekha talking about her experience of shooting a kissing scene for the Tamil film Punnagai Mannan(1986) is now going viral. In the interview, she reveals that the famous kiss between her and Kamal Haasan happened without her consent. In the film directed by K Balachander, Rekha and Kamal Haasan play lovers. The two have a kissing scene before they commit suicide as they are not allowed to live together.
In the interview, Rekha said that the director had planned the kiss without taking her consent. She had said that she would have never agreed to it had she known earlier. Rekha was 16 years old back then and the director told her that it is normal and not vulgar as they need to show the love and bonding between the two characters.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with a news portal, Rekha said that the audience does not believe that it happened without her permission. She said that only the people on the set know that the kiss happened without her consent and unless Kamal Haasan speaks about it no one will believe her.
Though she has been recollecting the past happily, Twitteratis are stating that it is yet another form of sexual harassment. Some even demanded that Kamal Haasan apologize to Rekha.
Sample of how much sexual harassment is rampant in Tamil Industry. Rekha explains how K. Balachander and Kamal planned the kissing scene in Punnagai mannan without informing her or getting her consent. https://t.co/stfqTU2xIW
— பவிரக்ஷா (@paviraksha) February 23, 2020
It's not "kiss with Kamal".
It's "forced Punnagai Mannan kiss BY Kamal" directed by KBC.
Such an imbecile KBC - would he dared to do this with his "Brahmin" heroines he introduced? Let that sink in.
Caste angle must be discussed here since both the men are from same caste.
— Surya · ???????????????????????? · சூர்யா ???? (@suryaceg) February 25, 2020
WTF!
This would have made the headlines if it happened in Hollywood. This is proper 'sexual harassment at the workplace'. Worst is, they've even planned it.
But since it's Kamal saaaaar and Balachandar saaaaar, it should be fine I guess. pic.twitter.com/alPAC7eXJy
— Sangeeth (@Sangeethoffcl) February 23, 2020
The film ran in theaters for 25 weeks and was later dubbed into Telugu as Dance Master and into Hindi as Chacha Charlie in 1996.
Also Read: Indian 2 accident: Kamal Haasan announces compensation for the family of the deceased
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2026 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.