Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal
Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal

“I think it was necessary in the film. I believed in the role and keeping that in mind I have been able to perform better. We have all moved way ahead. I mean how long are we going to show flowers or birds tweeting during a kissing scene?”Deepika Padukone on her kissing scenes in Love Aaj Kal.

Today is supposed to be International Kissing Day (???) and according to Wikipedia, “The idea behind the International Kissing Day is that many people may have forgotten the simple pleasures associated with kissing for kissing’s sake, as opposed to kissing as mere social formality or prelude to other activities. Kissing can be an enjoyable experience in and of itself. It is an expression and experience of intimacy. International Kissing Day is not as commercialized as Valentine’s Day.”

And so, since we at MissMalini love Bollywood so much, here is a look at some of those luscious smooches that have captivated us on screen, over the years.

Some are cute, some were controversial and others were just plain corny! Enjoy them, nonetheless….

Siren of the B/W era, Devika Rani kisses Himanshu Rai in1933 in a film called, Karma.
Siren of the B/W era, Devika Rani kisses Himanshu Rai in1933 in a film called, Karma.
Zeenat Aman puckers-up for Shashi Kapoor in Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Zeenat Aman puckers-up for Shashi Kapoor in Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Aishwarya Rai has no qualms about kissing her then boyfriend Viveik Oberoi, in Kyun Ho Gaya Na
Aishwarya Rai has no qualms about kissing her then boyfriend Viveik Oberoi, in Kyun Ho Gaya Na
This kiss between Aishwarya and Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom, caused the Bachchan family to frown quite a bit
This kiss between Aishwarya and Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom, caused the Bachchan family to frown quite a bit
Even Abhishek Bachchan has smooched Antara Mali in Naach.
Even Abhishek Bachchan has smooched Antara Mali in Naach.
Hrithik Roshan's kiss with Barbara Mori in Kites reportedly strained his marriage to Sussane Khan Roshan
Hrithik Roshan’s kiss with Barbara Mori in Kites reportedly strained his marriage to Sussane Khan Roshan
Emraan Hashmi gets drenched wiith kisses from Mallika Sherawat in Murder
Emraan Hashmi gets drenched wiith kisses from Mallika Sherawat in Murder

But in the last few years, kisses in Bollywood have got more progressive. Deepa Mehta’s Fire, caused a political and cultural inferno when it was scheduled to be released and it ultimately got banned for daring to show a kiss between Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. If I’m not mistaken some religious fundamentalists even took out a fatwa against Azmi.

Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das in Fire
Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das in Fire

All that has changed now. John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan simulated a smooch in Dostana but it was cleverly not shown on screen. We were only treated to a view of their hands holding each other’s faces.

John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan simulate a smooch in Dostana
John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan simulate a smooch in Dostana

And then, Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan also simulated a smooch on Koffee With Karan on prime-time television.  Apparently, they wanted to prove to Karan Johar that they would be the ideal “couple” for his production of Dostana 2.

Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor get smoochaliscious on Koffee With Karan
Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor get smoochaliscious on Koffee With Karan

So who will you be kissing today…???