India, Dec. 24 -- O ne of the surprise blockbuster hits of 2025 has been Saiyaara, the musical romantic drama directed by Mohit Suri and starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The film crossed the Rs.500 crore mark worldwide and become the highest grossing debutante-led Hindi film. With audiences raving about the lead pair's chemistry, Saiyaara's intimacy coordinator (IC) Akshay Murarka opens up on how the film's intimate scenes were filmed. He says, "Since Ahaan and Aneet were newcomers, building trust came first. We conducted workshops in the first week of shooting and did exercises around consent, boundaries, trust, and comfort. These sessions are mainly to help actors feel secure in their own bodies and with each other. They are structured, with every detail discussed, agreed upon, and carefully staged; nothing is ever assumed. Once that foundation of safety was in place, the intimacy on screen felt natural, and I think that honesty really connected with the audience." Sharing details of how the shots were planned, Akshay adds, "In the song Tum Ho Toh, there's a sequence of the two of them in a bathtub. The intention was to capture young, playful love without it seeming vulgar. A lot of care went into ensuring strict closed-set protocols, along with the use of modest garments, body tape, and physical barriers, so the actors' safety and comfort were never compromised." About the song Barbaad, he says, "There is a bedroom sequence where the emotion called for passion. Every moment was carefully discussed and choreographed so the intimacy felt honest and intense." Being a man in the profession, how does he ensure women artistes are comfortable? "I'm aware of the responsibility that comes when actors place their trust in me. There have been instances where I wasn't brought on as an IC because a director, female actor, or the production felt they might feel more comfortable with a female IC, and I completely respect that. My effort is always to approach intimacy with empathy and neutrality," he concludes....