Actor Shriya Saran and husband, businessman Andrei Koscheev sharing a kiss at every public event has routinely made headlines. On Kiss Day, the Drishyam and RRR star reveals how it began: “I remember I wasn’t well and feeling low. Andrei had come all the way from Thane (Maharashtra) for a premiere and was very tired. So, he was there for me, and I was there for him. He just kissed me, and it became a thing.”

The private moment soon translated into a cute public gesture. “Everyone started finding it funny. Surprisingly, photographers very sweetly started asking us to kiss again,” gushes Saran, adding that she finds it “absolutely okay” to express oneself in public as long as others aren’t made uncomfortable. “If a simple kiss can bring a little positivity in someone’s life, great.”

The 41-year-old doesn’t mark the different days of the Valentine’s week, but she sees such occasions as affirmations for making our significant others feel special. “It’s lovely when someone treats you well in any way. In the end, it’s all about treating each other well, be it Chocolate, Kiss or Teddy Day,” says Saran, who got married to Koscheev in March 2018 and welcomed their daughter Radha in 2021.

Expressions of love vary widely across the world, and Saran emphasizes the importance of finding one’s own unique way to do it: “Showing love is as important as having love for someone. For us, that gesture happens to be a sweet kiss. After all, a kiss heals a bad day, low mood or even a fight!”

As far as kissing in public goes, for Saran, it’s just a natural expression of love and affection. “Everyone kisses — it’s a very natural thing that we do. But I feel like some people are not comfortable doing it in front of the camera (the paparazzi). I am more of an extrovert and, hence, comfortable.”