BREAKING: Onscreen Kisses Not Enjoyable — Sandra Okunzuwa

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Nollywood actress Sandra Okunzuwa has spoken about why romantic kiss scenes in films are not as captivating and emotional as they seem. In a report by The Sun Nigeria on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Sandra Okunzuwa described kissing scenes in films as very technical and sometimes very uncomfortable on set.

The actress explained during an appearance on the BTS Reality Podcast that the way those kinds of scenes are shot makes it difficult for the performers to feel any kind of real intimacy or romantic connection.

She says that on movie sets, there is always a lot happening, with crew members and lighting and camera people and directors constantly calling out directions as filming takes place. She explained that such an atmosphere strips away any sense of privacy or emotional engagement that viewers might associate with romantic scenes.

“When actors kiss on set, there are about 20 people watching them and also giving them instructions,” she said.

Okunzuwa also noted that production, rather than comfort, alters the physical environment on set. Air conditioning is often turned off to ensure that the sound is recorded cleanly, while lighting, camera placement, and blocking are tightly controlled throughout the shoot, she said.

“Even AC will be switched off, and the director will monitor and teach them throughout,” she added. “So how can anyone be in the mood or get turned on under such conditions and environments?

The actress explained that, contrary to what the audience might believe, romance on screen is, for the most part, a technical performance, not necessarily a reflection of true emotional or physical intimacy. Each movement, expression, and timing is directed and repeated until the desired shot is obtained.

From her perspective, she also suggested that kissing scenes are not necessary to storytelling and can be cut if films can still tell the story of romance without them.

“Onscreen kisses aren’t even fun. ” I support the idea of scrapping onscreen kisses if viewers can still enjoy the films,” she said.

Aside from the technical side of filming, Okunzuwa also spoke about the personal challenges that could arise from acting in romantic roles. “It’s a scene that can cause tension in an actor’s personal relationships, particularly when the partner has issues separating performance from reality,” she said.

She remembered losing a romantic relationship because her then-partner watched a kissing scene from one of her films. The incident, she said, was a reminder of the emotional toll of working in the acting business.

“I lost a relationship once because someone sent my ex-boyfriend a scene from a movie where I kissed an actor,” she said.

Okunzuwa said that at first she thought her ex’s reaction was insecurity, but not everyone is comfortable dating actors, especially when you think about the nature of romantic roles in film production.

“I get it; people say they can’t date actors because you have to be able to tolerate things,” she added.