Nollywood actor and former Big Brother Naija housemate Saga Adeolu has offered a candid look behind the scenes of romantic filmmaking, saying many actors do not enjoy performing kissing scenes despite public assumptions.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Nolly Icons podcast, he challenged the belief that on-screen intimacy reflects real enjoyment for performers.
“It is not easy to kiss another actor. It is weird. I have not really had any good onscreen kisses. It is weird having people invade your mouth with saliva,” he said.
Saga stressed that such moments are strictly professional, driven by storytelling rather than personal pleasure. According to him, actors often push through discomfort to serve the script and maintain authenticity on screen.
“It is not something we enjoy. People think we enjoy it, but we don’t. We are just doing it for the story most times,” he explained.
He added that if given a choice, he would avoid such scenes altogether. “If I had my way, I won’t kiss anyone in a film. There was a day I kissed four different girls on set,” he said, highlighting the repetitive and often awkward nature of filming romantic sequences.
Despite frequently appearing in romantic roles, Saga admitted he has never experienced what he would consider a comfortable or “good” on-screen kiss, noting that the process can feel mechanical and uncomfortable rather than emotionally engaging.
His comments shed light on the professional demands placed on actors within Nigeria’s film industry, often referred to as Nollywood, where performers are expected to deliver convincing intimacy on cue regardless of personal discomfort.
Saga also called for greater public understanding of the craft, emphasizing that actors should be judged on performance rather than assumptions about their private feelings during such scenes.