Actor Divya Prabha, who played the lead role in Payal Kapadia's award winning movie ‘All we imagine as light’, has defended her intimate scene in the film.

The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and is making waves for its bold portrayal and storytelling. But the intimate scenes portrayed by the characters in the movie has been the topic of discussion on social media and has in fact revealed a sharp contrast to the film’s reception both in the home country and to the international audience. 

In an interview with ETV Bharat, the actor opened up about her character and about the swelling controversy revolving around the intimate scenes in the film. 

Prabha explained that the intimate scenes were never intended to titillate or please audiences, but rather to support the deeper themes of the movie. “The concept of the film is what should be discussed,” she said. “If the concept was not strong, would the film have garnered global attention? It is not the nudity but the story that matters.” She also lamented that many viewers were focused on her nude scenes rather than engaging with the powerful narrative.

Directed by Payal Kapadia, the film portrays a woman wrestling with her identity and societal expectations. Prabha’s performance has been praised for its raw emotion, though back home, the focus has largely been on the film's intimate moments. Addressing the criticism, Prabha explained that the intimate scenes were created with the utmost care and respect for all involved. "The scenes were done with full consent and care," she clarified.

Prabha stressed that she felt no discomfort, as the crew took steps to ensure her comfort. "I did not feel anything doing the intimate scenes. The film and the story are what matter the most," she said, also highlighting that an intimacy coordinator was present on set to ensure that the scenes were filmed with full consent and care.

Prabha also compared her experience to that of the late Silk Smitha, who similarly faced harsh criticism during her life for her bold portrayals in films. She also added that it was only after her death that people started to accept her as a person. She believes that younger audiences will eventually appreciate the film for its story, rather than focusing solely on the controversial scenes. 

Prabha acknowledged that societal attitudes towards intimacy and nudity in Indian films will take time to evolve, but she remains hopeful that things will change in the future. She emphasized that the film's message and critical success are what truly matter to her.