Yesteryear Bollywood actress Mandakini, who rose to overnight stardom with her debut in Raj Kapoor’s iconic film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), recently opened up about the much-discussed breastfeeding scene from the film. The scene, which stirred considerable controversy at the time, continues to be a subject of debate in conversations about censorship and onscreen portrayal of women.
In a candid interview with a media portal, Mandakini clarified the misconception surrounding the scene. “First of all, it was not a breastfeeding scene. It was shot in such a way that it could look like one,” the actress explained. She went on to highlight the technicality behind it, saying, “If I go on to explain how it was done, it would be too long (a story). The cleavage that is seen on screen—you see so much of it—it is all technically done.”
Mandakini stressed that the portrayal in Ram Teri Ganga Maili was far from gratuitous. Comparing it to today’s cinematic landscape, she commented on the evolution of onscreen skin show, noting, “But the way skin show is done in today’s times, that was nothing. We should not be even talking about it. It (her scene) was also a pure form.”
The actress also drew a distinction between her scene and modern depictions of sensuality, suggesting that the intent behind the scene was not driven by overt sexuality but artistic expression. “Nowadays, it is all about sexuality,” she remarked, highlighting the difference in the approach to intimacy and exposure in cinema today.
Mandakini’s comments provide insight into how a controversial moment was crafted with technical precision while maintaining an artistic perspective, something she feels has shifted in today’s portrayal of similar content.
