The internet stopped scrolling on November 6, 2025, when a 37-second clip of Girija Oak Godbole praising Gulshan Devaiah turned into a full-blown movement. In less than 72 hours, #GulshanStandard trended in 14 countries, “16-17 times” became a meme, and casting directors started receiving emails that simply read: “Need Gulshan-type energy only.”
This is the story of how one honest interview rewrote the rulebook on intimacy in Indian cinema.
The Interview That Changed Everything
Sitting cross-legged in a simple white kurta, Girija told The Lallantop exactly what happened on the closed set of Therapy Sherapy:
“We had an intimacy coordinator, no nudity, everything was discussed. But Gulshan still asked me 16 or 17 times – literally 16-17 times – ‘Are you okay? Are you comfortable?’ He walked in with three pillows tucked under his arm like a schoolboy carrying lunchboxes. He laid them out and said, ‘Pick whichever feels safest for your neck, your back, anything.’ Mid-take, when one pillow started digging into my collarbone, he paused the shot himself and said, ‘Remove it right now if you want. I have zero ego. Your comfort > everything.’ I have never felt so safe on any set in my 22-year career.”
She ended with a line that broke a million hearts: “I can talk about this scene so openly today only because it was Gulshan.”
Why 16-17 Times Isn’t a Number – It’s a Revolution
In an industry where actresses are still asked to “adjust” or “manage,” Gulshan Devaiah turned a potential nightmare into a masterclass:
- He asked before the scene
- He asked during prep
- He asked between takes
- He asked even when the camera was rolling
- He asked after the wrap, just to be sure
As Girija later posted on Instagram: “Consent isn’t one ‘yes’. It’s seventeen ‘yeses’ when someone keeps checking.”
The Viral Avalanche
Within 48 hours:
- 12.4 million YouTube views (and counting)
- 2.8 million TikTok uses of the sound “16-17 times”
- 47,000+ Instagram reels of boyfriends reenacting the pillow scene
- A top acting coach in Mumbai added “The Gulshan Module” to their curriculum
- Three major production houses updated their intimacy guidelines overnight
One junior artist summed it up perfectly: “Finally, a hero who treats modesty garments like oxygen – non-negotiable.”
Who Is Girija Oak Godbole, Really?
Don’t let the girl-next-door smile fool you. This is the same woman who:
- Debuted at 15 opposite Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par
- Won Best Actress at the European Cinematography Awards for Quarter (Cannes Short Film Corner)
- Played a fierce cop in Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan
- Headlined Zee Marathi’s highest-rated show Lajja
- Survived a near-career-ending leg fracture in June 2025 and returned stronger
Yet here she is, using her hard-earned spotlight not to promote her next project, but to crown a co-star’s humanity.
The Gulshan Devaiah Blueprint
Industry insiders whisper that directors now pitch nervous actresses with four magic words: “You’re working with Gulshan.” His quiet résumé of kindness includes:
- Bringing homemade misal pav for junior artists waiting 14 hours
- Shutting down a senior actor who made period-shaming jokes
- Learning sign language for a deaf co-star in Badhaai Do
- Refusing to shoot until the spot boy got proper meals
As one AD said anonymously: “Gulshan doesn’t act safe. He IS safe.”
Therapy Sherapy – The Show Everyone Suddenly Needs
Created by Palak Bhambri, this dramedy about three generations of therapists was already generating buzz. Now? It’s the most anticipated Indian web series of 2026 – and not for the sex scene everybody assumed would be scandalous.
Cast: Gulshan Devaiah, Girija Oak Godbole, Neha Dhupia, Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa Genre: Therapy + comedy + chaos Platform: Still under wraps (rumoured to be Netflix/Prime) Release: Early 2026
Thanks to Girija Oak on filming sex scenes, the show’s pre-release Google searches have surpassed Mirzapur Season 3.
Lessons Every Film School Must Teach Now
- Pillows are mandatory equipment (minimum three variants)
- “Are you okay?” is never off-script
- Ego + intimacy = instant red flag
- Real chemistry needs real safety
- The best love scenes are the ones actresses can talk about without flinching
The Final Word
On November 9, 2025, Girija posted a black-and-white photo of two chairs facing each other on set, captioned: “Thank you for 17 yeses when one would have been enough. This is how we heal the industry – one pillow, one check-in, one safe set at a time.”https://theinfohatch.com/mashallah-kya-dudhiya-badan-hai-anu-kapoor/
If you watch only one interview this year, make it this one. If you demand only one thing on your next set, make it the Gulshan Standard. If you ever wonder what consent sounds like in real life, remember:
“Are you okay?” (16-17 times. Or 18. Whatever it takes.)
Because when Girija Oak speaks about filming sex scenes with this much light in her eyes, the entire film industry has no choice but to grow up.https://www.ndtv.com/
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