It’s got more than a million views on YouTube, as compared to other episodes, which have done between 170,000 to 400,000 views. We are talking about the famous intimate Ram Kapoor-Sakshi Tanwar episode of the Sony soap Bade Achhe…on 12 March 2012. Before the episode aired, what passed off as intimacy between couples on Indian television was an embrace, a peck on the cheek, or even cuter…two flowers coming together. Well, the Bade Achhe…episode last week, was 30 minutes of a couple getting to know each other’s erogenous zones better. They cavorted on the bed, locked hands, and even lips as the duo consummated their marriage on-screen. Shot aesthetically, the episode is a coming of age for television and something which you will not watch with your 10 year old. In a perfect setting with 100s of lit candles, Priya (played by Sakshi) wore a sexy red chiffon saree with a barely there blouse, adding passion to the already charged-up ambience. Jaws dropped when Ram pulled Priya’s pallu and exposed her well-endowed bosom. Then they made love while viewers gasped in front of their TV sets. Yes, Ekta Kapoor proved again why she is called the queen of Indian television. Once again she managed to create a stir by churning out some risque content. Ram and Priya decided to go the extra length for the show, but will other lead actors follow the same feat and kiss on screen is a question we decided to ask them? And we got mixed responses. Sanaya Irani – who plays the female lead Khushi in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon on Star Plus – has “heard” about the … sequence but not “seen” it. ‘Personally, I will not kiss on screen. I don’t know may be years later I might change my mind but as of now, it is an absolute no-no,”she said. Barun Sobti, who is paired opposite Sanaya in Iss Pyaar Ko.…, echoed Sanaya. “I have not seen the Bade Achhe… episode so can’t really comment on it. But I am not cool with kissing. It’s just a personal preference.” Gurmeet Choudhary, who is currently seen as Yash Scindia in Zee TV’s Punar Vivah, is not sure whether he will kiss or not. “Frankly speaking, I have not seen the consummation episode of Bade Achhe…but I know people are talking about it. I am no one to judge whether someone should kiss or not. Personally, I have not thought about it. If someday I am asked to kiss on screen, I will think at that point of time,” averred Gurmeet. Gurmeet’s co-star Kratika Sengar on the show is also wary about getting too close on screen. “Sakshi Tanwar is a very senior actress and if she went ahead and kissed on screen, then she might have done it after weighing everything. She knows the ins and outs of the industry. However, I am not too comfortable with the idea of kissing on screen. It is not the issue of my parents feeling bad or not, but I am just not cool with it,” said Kratika. Moving on, for Hiten Tejwani aka Manav of Balaji’s Pavitra Rishta on Zee TV, it is all about the script. “It is not about two artists kissing each other just for the sake of it. There should be a logic and proper justification behind it. If I feel that a kiss is necessary for the betterment of my show, I will do it. After all, I am an actor. But there is always a limit which should never be crossed.” Soumya Seth aka Navya in Star Plus’ Navya doesn’t want to get into an uncomfortable zone. “Kissing on the cheeks and forehead is okay but not on lips. Lip-locks are not for me. My acting should make my parents proud and happy,” shared Saumya. However, Aishwarya Sakhuja aka Toasty of Saas Bina Sasural on Sony Entertainment Television is pretty sorted when it comes to smooching on the screen. “I am comfortable kissing. There’s no harm in it. But on TV, I will do it only if the show is being aired in an adult or late night slot. On prime time, I will not kiss as people of different age groups will get exposed to it. And for movies, I am all cool to kiss,” stated Aishwarya. On the other hand, Samir Soni, who is seen as Kunal Chopra in Parichay on Colors, straightforwardly threw a “no” to kissing on the screen. “I am not stating what they did on Bade Achhe… is right or wrong. It’s a matter of personal choice. But I am not comfortable doing it. My show Parichay airs at 9.30 pm wherein parents, children watch it. I don’t want to do something that will embarrass them. It’s just a personal preference and to each his own,” Sameer opined. Furthermore, the ever bubbly, charming and energetic Krystle Dsouza aka Jeevika in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hain (Star Plus) said with a smile, “I have not seen the particular sequence in Bade Achhe… but someone sent me a picture of Ram and Sakshi kissing each other. I think there was nothing vulgar about it. They are veteran actors and they have been there and done that. But I am too young to kiss on the screen, especially on television. I am not too comfortable I must state. As of now, no to kissing but what will happen in the future, I am not sure about it.” And this is what the leads of the Colors’ show Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha, Kunal Karan Kapoor and Akanksha Singh had to say. “I will kiss if the script demands,” said Kunal and for Akanksha, “her acting is enough. She doesn’t need to lip-lock.” After analyzing the responses of the various leads of different television shows, it seems that kissing is still a big step for them. But as Sameer opined, “to each his own.” It is true that the kissing and consummation sequence in Bade Achhe… has opened a new door in the world of Hindi television content. But what will happen next? Will other shows too follow the Balaji path and throw in steamy scenes or resort to the usual and tried & tested path of saas-bahu drama? Only time can answer that. Till then, just sit back and enjoy your favourite shows.