'Before the lip-lock scene, he was told to brush first' Surabhi Lakshmi on Rifle Club

Actress Surabhi Lakshmi recently opened up about filming a kissing scene in Rifle Club, revealing that she only found out it was a lip lock on the day of the shoot. The National Award-winning actress shared her behind-the-scenes experience, including how she asked her co-star Sajeev Kumar to brush his teeth before the take.

In an interview with Cue Studio, Surabhi Lakshmi spoke about the now-famous lip-lock scene, which occurs near the climax of Rifle Club and was met with applause in theatres. She explained that she initially thought the scene would be a simple kiss but later learned that it was a full-fledged lip lock.

"Shyam told me that I had a kissing scene during Rifle Club," she said. "At first, I thought it would be a normal kiss. But I came to know that it was a lip lock before taking the shot."

Despite the surprise, she did not feel tense about the scene. Instead, she checked in with Sajeev Kumar, who played her husband in the film, to see how he felt.

"I asked Sajeev chettan, who played my husband, if he was tense. And he said that he was not tense either."

"Since he was a cigarette smoker, he was told to go brush his teeth and come back," she revealed.

To further ensure the scene go well, she also chewed cardamom before the shot, taking it from the food department on set.

"Everyone on the set was called during that shot. I asked the food people and bought cardamom and chewed it for that scene," she said.

Surabhi also mentioned that actress Darshana was the only one on set who had previous experience filming a lip lock scene. However, she was not around at that time. "Darshana had experience in lip-locking on our set. I didn't see her at that time to ask questions," Surabhi added.

Directed by Aashiq Abu, Rifle Club became an unexpected success despite not having a big star cast. The film featured Surabhi Lakshmi in the lead role as Susan, and the kissing scene became one of the most talked-about moments in the movie.

While intimate scenes are usually shot in with minimal crew, Surabhi’s approach was different—she made sure everyone on set was present, adding an element of fun and camaraderie to the moment. With her trademark humour and candid storytelling, Surabhi Lakshmi turned what could have been a tense moment into a lighthearted and memorable experience on set.

Malayalam cinema, known for its strong storytelling and realism, has evolved in its approach to intimate scenes, both in filmmaking and audience acceptance. Earlier, such scenes were either avoided or heavily censored, but contemporary filmmakers now handle them with greater maturity and subtlety, focusing on emotional depth over sensationalism.

Actors, too, are more open about their experiences and audiences, once hesitant, now appreciate intimacy when it is contextually relevant, signalling a shift towards more progressive and nuanced storytelling in Malayalam cinema.