Not always earth-shattering
So most sexual escapades in the films may end with one or both partners dropping back to the respective sides of their bed with the widest grins ever, appropriately exhausted and attractively disheveled after what has been an earth-shattering experience. Accept our congratulations if you’re managing to achieve just that outcome in real life as well.

But the chances are, you’re not. Sex in real life isn’t always going to be about bursting through the clouds into golden light or free-falling gloriously in space as shown in the movies. Feeling pleasantly satiated or incredibly close to your partner or just happy and ready to snuggle are all great outcomes of sex in real life.

It’s a little fuzzy
In the perfect world of Moviedom, the leading lad and lady can give in to their carnal desires fairly spontaneously. All they need is the space to do so and all is gloriously wonderful. At the risk of playing spoilsport to your film-fuelled fantasies, we have to say, not everyone is ready to have sex at the drop of a hat — and we don’t mean that in the context of arousal. There’s that little thing called grooming (and protection) that tends to get in the way, for both men and women. Think of that rare moment depicted in One Fine Day, when a harried Michelle Pfiffer calls a halt to her spiraling sensual moment with George Clooney — to run into the bathroom and shave her legs. Good sex in real life needs a little more preparation than in the movies, and if you’re going for steamy spontaneity, be prepared to overlook a bit of fuzz, and make some arrangements for protection.

Food isn’t always fun
Strategically placing mounds of ice cream or whipped cream and squirting chocolate sauce over each other may be all very well when you’re seeing it in a film. Pretty, and perhaps tempting to try. But here’s something actors in a film don’t have to deal with: Cleaning up. Chocolate sauce is sticky, and so is melting ice cream. What’ll happen if you don’t lick/kiss/suck it all off expertly? There’ll be an awful lot of laundry to do, and you’ll be the one stuck doing it. Simple rule of thumb: Don’t take Hollywood’s food and sex demonstrations to heart. Sure a stray strawberry, grape or cherry is fine in real life, but unless you’re ready to simply discard a sheet or even — gasp! — your mattress, don’t try this at home.

Police PDA
Your favourite Hollywood movie may feature a lingering kiss between hero and heroine in the climax, usually in some busy airport or equally public location, while the crowd slow-caps their support of the at-last united lovebirds. But (and we feel your pain) your life isn’t a movie. Try to squeeze in a sizzling liplock with your ladylove at a crowded train station and you will be subjected to whistles, catcalls and comments. Extend that lip action a little more and the hand of the law will soon reach out in the guise of an overzealous khaki-clad cop who thinks it is his moral duty to part the two of you. If nothing else, you’ll be knocked down by a hurried porter. Indian stations are not the Grand Central.

Not that casual
Sex can occur in some pretty wild scenarios in the movies. Think: An encounter with a stranger that heats up pretty quick, or a one-night stand that leads to finding the love of your life or even having that perfect, non-messy, non-awkward threesome. In real life, not so much.
From a pick-up line that may just leave you feeling humiliated or worse, with a stinging cheek (from that slap she landed on you), to a one-night stand that might leave you with more than just post-coital afterglow, the pitfalls of casual, no strings attached sex outside of the movies can be many. Don’t let that slip your mind. And do play safe.