By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS): His debut Bollywood film "Khubsoorat" features quite a few fudged kissing scenes and Fawad Khan, the Hindi film industry's new entrant from across the border, says he refuses to do intimate scenes as he doesn't want to hurt the sentiments of his core audience.

He is seen as one of the most romantic hero in Pakistan, and interestingly has earned the reputation without getting intimate in front of the camera.

In "Khoobsurat" he is seen romancing Bollywood style icon Sonam Kapoor.

When asked did you refuse to kiss in "Khboobsurat" because of the cultural and moral embargo in Pakistan, he said: "I didn't want to hurt the sentiments of my core audience. The audience that has got me where I am. I think I need to respect their feelings."

"A lot of my audience would be quite offended if I suddenly started losing all my inhibitions. I just want to prepare the audience for a gradual change,"

So you'll kiss in the future?

"You never know. I never say never. I'd rather walk the unpredictable path. Besides, I'd never like to throw in something titillating just to spike and spice up a film," said the actor who became a sensation back home post featuring in TV shows "Humsafar" and "Zindagi Gulzar Hai".

Tell him that a kiss in "Khubsoorat" where two people in love express their feelings is quite natural, he said: "I agree. But what I learnt from doing the two popular Pakistani serials 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai' and 'Humsafar' is that audiences appreciate a romantic moment without physical intimacy.

"There was not a touch or a hug anywhere in either series. And yet audiences loved my chemistry with my co-stars (Mahira Khan and Sanam Saeed). I kind of like the idea of virgin romance to just show the couple's feelings through words and gestures and then leave the rest to the audiences' imagination," he said.