When Sridevi took legal action over kissing scene in a film with Mithun Chakraborty: 'That was my worst experience in the industry'

Even years after her passing, Sridevi continues to be remembered as one of Indian cinema’s most powerful and influential stars. Often hailed as the first female superstar, she ruled the screen across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. Beyond her iconic performances, she was also known for being fiercely clear about her boundaries, both personally and professionally. Sridevi was never one to follow industry pressures blindly.At a time when actors often gave in to directorial demands, she chose to stand firm on what she was comfortable portraying on screen. Her choices reflected not just confidence but also a strong sense of self-respect, making her stand out in an era that rarely accommodated such assertiveness.According to Newspoint, during the making of ‘Guru’, where she starred alongside Mithun Chakraborty, Sridevi reportedly refused to perform a kissing scene. While Mithun respected her decision, director Umesh Mehra allegedly went ahead and included the moment in the film using a workaround, later claiming that Sridevi had filmed it herself. The incident quickly turned controversial, as it went against the actress’ explicit refusal.Sridevi’s mother strongly opposed what had happened and did not hold back. She said, “Umesh Mehra has cheated us. We refused to give the kiss right from the beginning, so he took some extras and shot the scene. He cannot do that. It is not allowed.” Expressing her anger further, she added, “To hell with how he gets extras to do anything and show it as if Sridevi has done it! Tell him to remove the scene from the film and we will allow the film to be released.”The actress herself later opened up about the experience, calling it deeply upsetting. “The kissing problem of Guru was a nightmare. Someone else's lips were used for a kiss even though I had said I wouldn’t allow this to be done by a stand-in.” She also spoke about how it affected her family. “My parents saw the film and were very upset. And the director, Umesh Mehra, even claimed that I had actually done the kissing scene.”Making her stance crystal clear, she concluded, “That has been my worst experience in the film industry. I'm not sure why I should kiss someone I don't know. Others can do it but I can't.”From classics like ‘Mr India’ to ‘Chandni’ and ‘Lamhe’, Sridevi created a body of work that continues to inspire generations. Yet, stories like these highlight that her legacy is not just about memorable roles, but also about standing her ground in an industry that often demanded compromise.