Neha Vyaso: Crafting consent in Bollywood

This episode of The Documentary Podcast explores the transformative work of Neha Vyaso, Bollywood's first and most prominent intimacy coordinator and director, as she reshapes the industry's approach to consent, vulnerability, and safety on set. Through intimate behind-the-scenes access to a rehearsal workshop in Mumbai, the documentary reveals how Vyaso uses body mapping, boundary-setting exercises, and choreography to prepare actors for emotionally charged scenes—particularly those involving intimacy or sexual violence. She challenges long-standing Bollywood tropes that equate 'no' with 'yes' and prioritize male gaze over emotional authenticity, advocating instead for a model rooted in consent, agency, and trauma-informed care. Drawing from her own history as a survivor of child sexual abuse and a former actress who experienced non-consensual scenes, Vyaso brings a deeply personal commitment to her work, training actors and directors across South Asia through her company Brave Spaces. The episode captures both the resistance she faces in a hierarchical, conservative industry and the profound relief and empowerment actors like Priyanka and Gaurav experience when guided by her. Ultimately, this is a story about redefining storytelling in Bollywood—not through spectacle, but through courage, clarity, conviction, and care.