“Kiss between Ranveer and Deepika was not lust, it was love”: When Sanjay Leela Bhansali spoke about viral Holi kissing scene from Ram Leela

“Kiss between Ranveer and Deepika was not lust, it was love”: When Sanjay Leela Bhansali spoke about viral Holi kissing scene from Ram Leela

• Ram-Leela's Holi kiss scene still sparks debate after a decade
• Director Bhansali says the kiss was about love, not provocation
• The scene remains iconic for its boldness and emotional depth

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As Holi approaches and playlists begin to fill up with Bollywood’s most iconic festival songs, one scene inevitably returns to the spotlight, the passionate Holi sequence from Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. Over a decade later, the film’s much-discussed kiss between Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone continues to spark conversations. But for director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the moment was never about provocation. It was about love.

In a past interview with Filmfare, Sanjay Bhansali had addressed the chatter surrounding the scene, especially the Holi kiss that quickly went viral after the film’s 2013 release. Clarifying his creative intent, he said, “Kissing is a natural expression of love. It’s poetry in motion, not vulgarity. I explored sensuality, not sexuality.”

At the time, the scene had drawn both admiration and criticism. Set against the riot of colours, pounding dhol beats and charged emotions, Ram and Leela’s kiss became one of the most memorable moments of the film. Many viewed it as bold and intense, while others questioned its necessity. Bhansali, however, stood firm on his artistic choice.

Explaining the emotional landscape of his characters, he shared, “Ram-Leela expresses aggression and violent love. My characters fall in love passionately, breaking societal constraints.” For Bhansali, the kiss was not a standalone spectacle but an organic extension of the characters’ turbulent romance — a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Gujarat’s fiery backdrop.

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The chemistry between Ranveer and Deepika added to the authenticity of the moment. Their on-screen romance, which later translated into a real-life love story, gave the film an emotional depth that audiences connected with instantly. The Holi sequence, drenched in colour and desire, symbolised a love that refused to stay confined within social boundaries.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s larger vision for Ram-Leela was always rooted in heightened emotion. From elaborate sets to intricate costumes and music composed by the filmmaker himself, every frame was designed to amplify passion. The Holi scene, with its abandon and intensity, perfectly captured that spirit.

Today, as Holi celebrations draw near once again, the scene continues to resurface across social media feeds, reminding viewers of a time when cinema dared to be unapologetically dramatic. And as Bhansali once made clear, what audiences witnessed was not lust disguised as spectacle, but love expressed without restraint — “poetry in motion,” as he called it.