Rajeev Khandelwal on Kissing Kritika Kamra: Why the 'Arrogant Man' Deserved That Slap!
In a revealing 2026 retrospective, television icon RajeevKhandelwal has finally shared the unfiltered story behind one of the most
controversial moments in Indian TV history: the "Kiss and Slap"
sequence with Kritika Kamra in the 2015 show Reporters.
During a media talk, Rajeev addressed the scene that went
viral over a decade ago, breaking down the psychology of his character, Kabir
Sharma, and his "arrogant" mindset at the time.
“Ek Arrogant Aadmi Ne Socha Ki…” – The Mindset Behind the
Kiss
Rajeev, who is currently promoting his latest series Amar
Vishwas, reflected on how that single scene was designed to establish the
power dynamics of the entire show.
Explaining the creative intent, he said:
"I did it because I knew that one kiss in that one
scene would lead to one slap, which would set the tone of the show. It makes it
clear exactly who these characters are. Sometimes you don't need dialogue. Ek
arrogant aadmi ne socha ki main to itna good-looking hu, itni powerful position
pe hu that babes I'm going to kiss you. (An arrogant man thought, I am so
good-looking and in such a powerful position that, babes, I am going to kiss
you.)"
He further added that the immediate response from Kritika's
character, Ananya, was the perfect antidote to that arrogance:
"That girl says, 'I am not affected by your power,'
and she slaps you. It immediately tells the audience what this show's approach
is."
On Kissing ‘Pretty’ Kritika Kamra: "I Had No
Complaints"
When asked if he was apprehensive about performing such a
bold scene on national television—especially in 2015—Rajeev was refreshingly
candid. He admitted that having a co-star like Kritika Kamra made the process
much easier.
- No
Complaints: Rajeev humorously noted, "Of course, I was kissing
a pretty woman, so I had no complaints about it."
- The
Slap Was Deserved: He emphasized that he was just as comfortable
receiving the slap as he was giving the kiss. "My conscience was
alive; I knew I was doing the work that would get me slapped (Meri
conscious zinda thi, mujhe pata tha kaam to thappad khane wala hi kar raha
hu)."
Why the Scene Still Matters in 2026
The Reporters promo was a "trendsetter" for
Indian TV, moving away from traditional saas-bahu dramas toward a more
realistic, gritty portrayal of the media industry.
- A
Message Against Harassment: Both Rajeev and Kritika have maintained
that the scene was not about "boldness" for the sake of TRPs but a visual representation of a woman standing up against workplace
entitlement and harassment.
- Viral Misunderstanding: At the time of the release, many fans mistook the leaked footage for a real-life incident between the two actors, leading to massive online debates before the show even premiered.
Fun Fact: Despite the intense chemistry on screen,
Rajeev and Kritika have always maintained that they were just "very
chilled out" colleagues who treated the controversial scene like any other
professional assignment.
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