For years, intimate scenes in Indian cinema were often left to the actors and directors to figure out on set. A kiss might be improvised, a physical boundary might be discussed moments before the cameras started rolling, and performers were expected to rely on personal trust to get through uncomfortable situations. That approach is slowly changing, with intimacy coordinators taking on a growing role in Bollywood and the wider Indian entertainment industry.

Their job is to make intimate scenes feel natural on screen without leaving actors to navigate them alone. From establishing boundaries before filming to choreographing every movement, these professionals bring planning, consent and safety to scenes that were once largely unstructured.

What is an intimacy coordinator?

An intimacy coordinator is a trained professional who works with actors, directors and the production team to plan scenes involving physical intimacy, nudity or sexual content. The role has similarities to that of a stunt coordinator, who designs fight sequences and other physically demanding scenes to minimise risk.

Instead of leaving intimate moments to improvisation, coordinators work out the details in advance. They establish where an actor's hands can go, how close performers should be, which movements are required and what remains off-limits. The aim is to ensure that everyone understands the scene before filming begins.

Consent is central to the process. Actors are informed about intimate content in the script and given an opportunity to discuss their comfort levels. These conversations can begin even before casting is finalised, allowing performers to make informed decisions about a role rather than face unexpected demands once they arrive on set.

The work also involves communicating boundaries to directors and other crew members, checking that agreed arrangements are followed and addressing concerns if a scene changes during production.

How do intimacy coordinators make intimate scenes safer?

An intimate scene may look spontaneous when it appears on screen, but much of that effect comes from careful preparation.

Coordinators break down a sequence into specific movements, much like choreography for a dance or action scene. Actors know what physical contact is expected, how the scene will progress and when the sequence will end. This leaves less room for confusion or unwanted improvisation.

They may also use modesty garments and other protective equipment to reduce direct contact between performers. These can include crotch guards, nipple pasties and doughnut cushions specially designed to help actors maintain distance while creating the appearance of physical closeness.

The process is not limited to the mechanics of a scene. Actors may have different boundaries depending on their personal comfort, the nature of the role and the demands of the script. An intimacy coordinator helps make those boundaries clear without compromising the director's creative vision.

Importantly, consent is not a one-time conversation. If a scene changes, the performers should have the opportunity to discuss and agree to the revised action before it is filmed.

Why is Bollywood paying more attention to intimacy coordination?

For much of its history, mainstream Hindi cinema approached physical intimacy cautiously. Strict censorship, social attitudes and the conventions of popular filmmaking meant that desire was often suggested rather than shown. Flowers touching, waves crashing against a shore and other symbolic images became familiar ways of implying romance and sexual intimacy without depicting it directly.

The growth of streaming platforms has changed the kinds of stories reaching Indian audiences. Series and films now explore complicated relationships, sexual desire, infidelity, harassment and other subjects that may require more explicit or physically demanding scenes.

That change has brought a greater need for clear procedures on set.

The global #MeToo movement also prompted renewed scrutiny of sexual misconduct and power imbalances in the entertainment industry. Intimacy coordination has become part of a wider conversation about how productions can protect performers and make consent a practical requirement rather than an informal understanding between colleagues.

One of the early mainstream Hindi productions to bring this approach into the spotlight was ‘Gehraiyaan’, released on Amazon Prime Video in 2022. Intimacy coordinator Aastha Khanna helped establish boundaries and choreograph intimate sequences, while intimacy coach Neha Vyaso conducted workshops focused on consent and physical dynamics.

The film became an important reference point in discussions about how intimate scenes could be handled more systematically in Indian cinema.

From ‘Gehraiyaan’ to ‘Mirzapur’: A gradual shift

The change has been particularly visible in streaming productions, where stories often explore relationships and sexuality in greater detail.

Actor Rasika Dugal, known for her role in the crime drama ‘Mirzapur’, has spoken about how performers had to work out their personal boundaries themselves during the show's early seasons, when intimacy coordinators were not part of the process.

Having a specialist on set can make a significant difference. Rather than leaving each actor to negotiate uncomfortable situations independently, the coordinator provides a point of contact for discussing concerns and agreeing on the details of a scene.

For Dugal, the presence of an intimacy coordinator is important to ensuring that no one is violated and that everyone's concerns are addressed.

Khanna has also highlighted how the absence of clear boundaries can allow unwanted actions to happen during filming. An actor kissing a co-star without consent, for instance, is not something that should be dismissed as an impulsive moment or an inevitable part of performing.

Choreography and prior agreement help prevent such situations by making it clear what the scene requires and what the actors have agreed to do.

Are intimacy coordinators common on Indian film sets?

Despite growing awareness, intimacy coordination remains far from standard practice across India's film and television industries. The number of professionals working in the field is still small, with just over a dozen reported across the industry.

Their presence also varies from production to production. Some projects bring coordinators on board early, while others continue to manage intimate scenes through discussions between actors and directors. In certain mainstream films, where explicit physical intimacy is limited, productions may see less immediate demand for the role.

There is also no universal requirement for Indian productions to hire an intimacy coordinator. This means that the approach to consent and physical boundaries can differ considerably depending on the filmmaker, production house and working environment.

As the role becomes more familiar, some industry professionals hope film associations will establish clearer standards so that performers have consistent safeguards, regardless of the size or nature of a production.

Intimacy coordination is about more than sex scenes

The title can make the job sound narrowly focused on romantic or sexual sequences. In reality, the work can cover a much wider range of situations involving vulnerable physical contact, nudity, simulated sexual activity, coercion, harassment or power imbalances.

A scene involving an assault or an abuse of authority, for example, may be emotionally and physically demanding even when it contains no nudity. Planning such scenes requires an understanding of the action, the actors' boundaries and the steps needed to make the filming process safer.

The emotional impact matters, too. A performer may be required to portray an experience that is difficult to enact, and a poorly managed set can make an already demanding scene more distressing.

An intimacy coordinator cannot remove every challenge involved in portraying such experiences, but clear communication and agreed boundaries can help reduce the risk of harm.

Ultimately, the purpose is not to make intimate scenes less convincing. It is to make the process of creating them more professional, with performers knowing what is expected of them and having a say in how that work is carried out.

As Indian cinema continues to tell more varied stories, intimacy coordination is becoming an important part of the conversation about working conditions on set. The larger question is whether these safeguards will remain dependent on individual productions or become a normal part of filmmaking across the industry.