Actor Gulshan Devaiah recently addressed criticism about a scene in Kantara Chapter 1 where he pulls co-star Rukmini Vasanth's cheek. The two actors play siblings, Prince Kulashekara and Princess Kanakavathi, in Rishab Shetty's film. After a fan praised the moment on social media, Gulshan revealed the gesture was improvised during rehearsals and kept in the final cut because it made the director laugh. However, some users questioned whether the action was done without consent. Gulshan clarified that as professional actors, the improvisation was consensual and part of their collaborative process. He emphasized his commitment to maintaining professionalism on set and explained that not all improvisation is spontaneous. The actor also mentioned learning about consent protocols the hard way during the filming of Shaitan in 2011, though he did not provide further details. Kantara Chapter 1 has earned over 834 crore rupees worldwide and is streaming on Prime Video.
Actor Clarifies Consent After Social Media Criticism
Following online backlash, Gulshan Devaiah explained that the cheek-pulling scene was not spontaneous but discussed and agreed upon. He responded to multiple users who believed improvisation meant acting without permission. The actor stressed that he takes pride in being a thorough professional and always ensures consent with co-actors regardless of gender. Gulshan mentioned that he learned about the importance of consent during an incident on the sets of Shaitan but did not elaborate further. Meanwhile, Rukmini Vasanth has not publicly commented on the controversy. The film continues its successful theatrical run and remains available for streaming in South Indian languages on Prime Video, having crossed the 834 crore rupees milestone globally.
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