Priya Bapat Recalls Disturbing Early-Career Incident: ‘The Actor Kept Crossing Boundaries During A Kissing Scene’

Actor Priya Bapat has opened up about an uncomfortable experience from the early years of her career, revealing how a co-star repeatedly crossed professional boundaries during the filming of an intimate scene. The Marathi actor said the incident left her confused and uncomfortable at a time when she was still new to the industry and unsure how to respond to such situations.

Speaking in a recent interview, Priya recalled that the incident occurred during one of her first films, long before her breakthrough performances in projects such as City of Dreams. She explained that the film included a kissing scene, something she had questioned from the very beginning during script discussions. According to the actor, her concern was not about performing the scene itself but about whether it was genuinely necessary for the story.

Priya said she repeatedly asked the filmmakers to justify the inclusion of the intimate scene. She wanted to understand how it contributed to the narrative and whether it was essential to the character arc. While she was not opposed to doing the scene, she believed there should be a clear creative reason behind it. Eventually, after discussions with the makers, she agreed to perform it.

However, according to Priya, things became uncomfortable during the actual shoot. She alleged that her co-actor began extending the intimate moments beyond what had been discussed and choreographed. The actor claimed that he continued kissing her repeatedly while filming, making her feel uneasy. At the time, she said she struggled to react because she had never encountered such a situation before and did not know how to stand up for herself.

Looking back, Priya admitted that her lack of experience played a major role in how she handled the incident. She said she froze in the moment and found it difficult to speak up. The actor explained that young performers often enter the industry without knowing how to navigate situations where professional boundaries become blurred.

The discomfort did not end on set. Priya revealed that the entire cast and crew were staying in the same hotel during the shoot, and the co-actor allegedly began sending her frequent messages outside working hours. According to her, he repeatedly invited her to dinners, breakfasts and other private meetings. She also recalled receiving offers to be taught swimming and other personal invitations that she did not welcome.

As the messages continued, Priya said she became increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed. Despite making it clear through her behaviour that she was not interested, the communication allegedly did not stop. The situation eventually reached a point where she felt she needed outside support.

At that stage, Priya contacted her husband, actor Umesh Kamat, and explained what was happening. According to her, Umesh immediately travelled from Mumbai to the shooting location after learning about the situation.

Priya revealed that Umesh stayed at the hotel with her for three days. His presence, she said, served as a clear signal that she was not alone and helped establish boundaries with the co-star. She credited her husband with supporting her during a difficult period when she felt uncertain about how to handle the situation herself.

The actor also expressed surprise that the co-star allegedly continued pursuing her despite knowing that she was in a committed relationship. According to Priya, that aspect of the experience made the situation even more difficult to understand.

Notably, Priya chose not to reveal the identity of the actor involved. Her comments focused on the experience itself rather than naming individuals. The actor instead used the incident to highlight the importance of recognising and respecting professional boundaries on film sets.

Over the years, Priya has built a successful career across film, television, theatre and OTT platforms. Known for performances in projects such as City of Dreams, she has become one of the most respected actors in Marathi entertainment.