Quotes of the Day

For decades Bollywood produced the chastest of films: boy met girl, but there were no kisses, hips only thrust during dance numbers, and the audience knew that romance would be followed by marriage. But in the past two years, Bollywood has shed its modesty. While the movies are still tame by Western standards, new films portray promiscuity, prostitution, gay relationships, and some—although not all—have rung chimes at the box office. A quick guide to how Bollywood has discovered sex.

JISM (JANUARY 2003)
Inspired by Hollywood's Double Indemnity, this trailblazer cast Bipasha Basu as an unfaithful wife—shown in revealing sex scenes—who persuades her stud lover to murder her husband.

KHWAHISH (JUNE 2003)
Mallika Sherawat starred in this film boasting 17 kisses—a record. "I used the age-old route of exploiting my sexuality to get ahead," Sherawat told India Today.

GIRLFRIEND (JUNE 2004)
The publicity posters promised steamy action: it showed co-stars Isha Koppikar and Amrita Arora sucking each other's thumbs. The film was actually tame. This has become a marketing ploy: unlike films, movie posters aren't subject to government censorship.

JULIE (JULY 2004)
A young girl travels to Bombay, falls on hard times, becomes a prostitute and then exposes her clients on TV. Star Neha Dhupia previously caused a stir by walking out of the sea in a red bikini in 2003's Qayamat.

ROG (DECEMBER 2004)
An insomniac policeman becomes obsessed by a beautiful advertising executive whose murder he is investigating. Hey, this isn't your old Bollywood anymore.

• Alex Perry | New Delhi
• A quick guide to how Bollywood has discovered sex