Girija Oak Godbole, who stars opposite Gulshan Devaiah in the upcoming web series Therapy Sherapy, recently opened up about shooting an intimate sequence with him. In a candid conversation, the actress praised Gulshan for his exceptional professionalism and thoughtfulness on set, revealing how he went out of his way to ensure her comfort during the shoot.
“Intimacy scenes can be a grey zone”
Girija shared that while intimacy coordinators and pre-shoot discussions help in creating a safe environment, such scenes can still feel uncertain once the camera starts rolling.“In a series or film, whenever there’s an intimacy scene, intimacy coordinators are generally present on set. The whole atmosphere is such that you feel comfortable. Beforehand, there are discussions about what we’re going to do, how we’re going to do it, what will be seen and what won’t. You have a complete picture of it,” Girija explained during an interview with The Lallantop.However, she added that despite all the preparation, some moments can still feel challenging.“Once the camera starts rolling, sometimes you get stuck in a dilemma of whether to stop it or not, whether it was right or not. It’s a very grey zone,” she said.
“There are very few people you feel no discomfort with — Gulshan is one of them”
Speaking fondly of her co-star, Girija said that Gulshan’s sensitivity made all the difference.“No matter how much you plan or discuss beforehand, there are very few people with whom you don’t feel even a milligram of discomfort. Gulshan is one of them,” she shared.The actress revealed that the scene they shot portrayed a married couple whose intimacy had become mechanical — more of a daily chore than an emotional expression.“It was a sequence where the husband and wife make love like it’s just another job — like doing laundry or paying bills. There’s no passion, no emotion, just routine. We were wearing full clothes; there was no nudity. It was more about the emotional disconnect than the act itself,” she clarified.
“He brought three to four pillows for me to choose from”
Girija recalled how Gulshan personally ensured her comfort during the shoot by offering her multiple options to make the scene easier.“From his vanity van, he brought three to four types of pillows — one small, one big and fluffy, another stiff. He placed them in front of me and said, ‘Look, which one will be comfortable for you?’ We tried them and chose one that felt right. During the scene, he must have asked me at least 16 or 17 times, ‘Are you okay?’” she shared.When one of the pillows started causing inconvenience mid-shoot, Gulshan immediately offered her the choice to remove it.“He said, ‘If you want to remove it, I have no problem. I’m okay with it.’ That level of respect and care really touched me,” she added.
“It was only because it was Gulshan”
Girija concluded by expressing her admiration for Gulshan Devaiah’s professionalism and empathy.“This could have been a very difficult situation for someone else, but it was only because it was Gulshan that I felt so comfortable. I can even talk about it openly now because he made me feel that safe. It’s just amazing that he’s that kind of person,” she said.
