The two stars discuss the pressure of shooting intimate sequences and the inevitability of clips surfacing online, citing personal coping tricks.
Radhikka Madan and Vijay Varma have both taken to interviews to explain what it feels like to have intimate footage from Lust Stories 3 end up on the internet. Their comments come just weeks after Radhika Apte recounted a similar ordeal, turning the conversation into a mini‑roundtable on privacy, consent and the digital age.
The leak is out of an actor’s hands
Madan, who shares a steamy frame with Ali Fazal in the anthology, told News18 that once a scene is shot, the possibility of it being uploaded somewhere is a given. “Jinki nazrein kharab hain, unka hum kya kar sakte hain?” she said, noting that there’s little an actor can do to stop a rogue upload. The actress added that the only sensible approach is to stay confident in the director’s vision and move forward.
Shutting out the crowd
Varma, recalling his own experience from the Lust Stories 2 segment with Tamannaah Bhatia, echoed the same sentiment. “We need to be able to shut out the audience gaze while filming such scenes,” he explained, stressing that dwelling on potential backlash would cripple his performance. He admitted that he goes into the shoot knowing the clip will likely travel far and wide, but insists that mental discipline is the only way to keep the work flowing.
A pattern emerging?
Both actors highlighted that leaks are not isolated incidents. The duo pointed out that once a clip surfaces, it can reach a stranger’s phone, a watchman’s screen or even a driver’s tablet within hours. The ripple effect, they said, can feel invasive – a reality Apte also described when she said her household staff were suddenly aware of her leaked footage.
Why the anxiety?
The stress, according to Madan, stems from the fact that intimate scenes are often judged outside the context of the story. “People who have a dirty mind can’t be dealt with,” she said, implying that public reaction is largely driven by voyeurism rather than artistic appreciation. Varma added that the fear of being typecast or reduced to a single scene can linger long after the cameras stop rolling.
Industry response
While the actors’ remarks are personal, they also hint at a broader industry conversation. Directors of the Lust Stories franchise – Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vishal Bhardwaj – have consistently pushed boundaries, yet the recurring leaks suggest a need for tighter digital safeguards. No official statement from the makers has been released yet.
Looking ahead
Both Madan and Varma say they’ll keep choosing roles that challenge them, leaks or not. Their candidness may encourage other performers to speak up, potentially prompting platforms and producers to rethink how such footage is protected. For now, the audience will have to wait for the final cut of Lust Stories 3, hoping the narrative outweighs the noise.
And as the conversation continues, the question remains: will the industry evolve fast enough to keep intimate art private until it’s meant to be seen?
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