Popular Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has responded to concerns from some fans about the growing number of kissing and intimate scenes in Nigerian films.

Her reaction came after a social media user appealed to producers to reduce such scenes, arguing that they could create problems in the marriages of actors.Stephen explained that no actor is compelled to participate in kissing or other intimate scenes during production.

According to her, actors are always free to state their personal beliefs or boundaries, and she has, on several occasions, rewritten or adjusted scenes to accommodate performers who are not comfortable with physical intimacy on screen.She noted that while some actors decline such scenes, others willingly accept them as part of their professional work.The filmmaker also said she generally prefers producing family-friendly content and is not a supporter of unnecessary or excessive kissing in films.However, she stressed that some romantic scenes may require a level of intimacy to make the emotions and relationships believable for viewers.

In her view, convincing storytelling is an important part of filmmaking, and directors sometimes use intimate scenes where they genuinely serve the story.

Stephen further argued that responsibility for managing the effect of an acting career on a marriage belongs to the actors themselves and their spouses, not to producers or directors.She said couples should understand the nature of the profession before making such commitments.

She added that her primary responsibility on set is to ensure actors work in a safe, respectful and comfortable environment where their personal boundaries are respected throughout production.