It isn’t uncommon to see a kissing scene in a Bollywood film, but that isn’t the case in Sandalwood.

Most Sandalwood directors haven’t dared to include liplock scenes in their films due to Censor Board regulations, or for fear of stirring up a controversy. However, reports that there will be kissing scenes in the Kannada version of The Dirty Picture — the Veena Malik-starrer Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Maga — have created a buzz in the industry.

The lead actor of the movie, Akshay, confirms that there are indeed such scenes in the film. “We have two kissing scenes in the movie. The heroine in the movie is exploited by directors and producers, and is bitter about the ways of the film industry. I play a rough- and-tough guy who falls in love with her. This scene conveys the expression of that love. To portray this character realistically, the kissing scenes were shot in an aesthetic manner. We have not included them in the film for the heck of having a kissing scene in it — the script demanded it,” says Akshay, adding that if the Censor Board objects to the scenes, the makers will take it to the Tribunal Board.