When 7 Khoon Maaf was released in 2011, it gained attention not only for its story and performances but also for a controversy involving Annu Kapoor and an intimate scene in the film. His comments at that time led to discussions about consent, comfort, and beauty standards in the film industry.
Now, nearly 15 years later, Annu Kapoor has spoken again about the incident and explained the reason behind his earlier statement. In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, he said that his comment was made out of frustration after being repeatedly asked the same question by journalists.
He said, “What else could it be? More than my looks, the problem was that I am not a hero. I don’t really know. When we worked together in Vishal Bhardwaj’s film Saat Khoon Maaf, several journalists kept asking me if Priyanka refused to kiss me.” He added, “They kept pestering me, and I eventually got irritated and said, ‘Maybe she would have if I was a star.’”
Kapoor also spoke about the filming of the scene and said that he was aware that Priyanka Chopra was not fully comfortable with it. According to him, he respected her feelings and even suggested that the scene should be removed.
He said, “Vishal Bhardwaj told me she was hesitant. I said that makes sense. I even suggested removing the scene, but Vishal refused. We had to go ahead with it. Actors can’t appear uncomfortable on camera, so we did it professionally.”
At the time of the film’s release, Priyanka Chopra had reacted strongly to Kapoor’s remarks. She had called them inappropriate and expressed her disagreement with how the situation was being discussed publicly.
The film was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and was based on Susanna’s Seven Husbands by Ruskin Bond. It featured a large cast, including Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Alexander Dyachenko.
Annu Kapoor played one of the husbands of Priyanka Chopra’s character in the film. Even today, the film is remembered not only for its performances but also for the discussions it started around sensitive topics in cinema.