Katrina Kaif agreed for first on-screen kiss with Hrithik Roshan in ZNMD: ‘She’s the prince’

In Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), director Zoya Akhtar defied mainstream cinema norms by depicting a film without hero elevations, action sequences or an overt focus on the romantic subplot between Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif. Despite their fame as skilled dancers, Hrithik and Katrina did not share a romantic song or a heavyweight romantic showdown.

The film faced pressure from the actors' teams to include a romantic duet, but Zoya resisted, saying, "I don't know where. I don't know how to fit that in." She further explained, "Can he imagine it at the beach? No! He can't." Similarly, she refused to include her on-screen kiss in Senorita, stating, "She's gone. Only then would it feel fresh once she comes back."

Zoya's decision was guided by her gut feeling that it would be a force-fit. The film's climactic scene, where Katrina's character Laila rides a bike miles just to kiss Hrithik's Arjun, marked her first on-screen kiss. Director Zoya noted that it was Katrina's first kiss and described the impulsive act as necessary to cement Laila's character and show her impulsive nature.