The Gupt confession: Why Bobby Deol refused an intimate scene with Manisha Koirala

Actor Bobby Deol has recalled why he refused to film an intimate scene with Manisha Koirala in the 1997 thriller Gupt, saying he struggled during the shoot because of the smell of onions on her breath. He shared the anecdote while looking back on a sequence from the film in which she had to bite his chin during a song.

Recalling the shoot, Bobby, in an interview on Aap Ki Adalat, said, "Yes, I remember. It was cold when we were shooting and there was someone selling chana zor garam, and she was eating it with great pleasure. There was a whole scene pending, where she had to bite my chin during the song."

He said he found it difficult to react properly at the moment because of the smell of onions from her mouth.

"I was unable to give any expressions due to the smell of onions from her mouth. How do I take revenge on her? There was a scene happening inside the college, where her brother or someone comes to beat me. He was a new actor, so I told him to eat onions to improve his acting. I made him eat so many onions, but when he gave the shot, Manisha did not behave any differently. You are immature at that age," the actor added.

On the professional front, Bobby will next be seen in Bandar. The trailer introduces him as Sameer Mehra, a wannabe rockstar accused of sexual assault. Bandar also marks his first collaboration with Anurag Kashyap. The screenplay has been written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, the team behind projects such as Paatal Lok, Kohrra and Udta Punjab. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 5, 2026.

The actor will also be seen in Yash Raj Films’ upcoming spy thriller Alpha. The film, featuring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari is billed as the first female-led spy thriller directed by Shiv Rawail.

Alpha is set for a theatrical release on July 10.