Intimacy Coordinators Changed Bhardwaj's Filmmaking Forever

Vishal Bhardwaj's latest contribution to Lust Stories 3, starring Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth, deviates from his signature dark themes. This segment, set in 1987 Hyderabad, focuses on Saira, a conservative literature teacher and anonymous erotica author whose desires begin to influence her marriage. Bhardwaj found working with the real-life couple, Hydari and Siddharth, to be professional, noting they maintained distinct zones on set.

Initially hesitant about intimacy coordinators, director Vishal Bhardwaj's perspective dramatically shifted. He discovered their training created a highly professional and conducive environment for filming sensitive scenes. Bhardwaj now advocates for their consistent use, stating they made him feel more comfortable and improved his creative process.

Interestingly, Aditi Rao Hydari was the initial casting choice for the segment. Siddharth joined later when scheduling allowed, as the script was not originally written with the couple in mind. The film explores themes of lust, love, and a female gaze through a role-reversal narrative, marking a departure for Bhardwaj into a more psychological and romantic space.