There has been a hot debate on social networks and other places regarding a picture which came out in The Daily Times where Rising Choreos actress Joyce Mhango-Chavula was captured kissing Ghanaian actor Van Vicker in a scene of a play.

Some people have criticised the actress, saying she went overboard with the kiss and that as a married woman, she was not supposed to do that.

"Fancy this if she was your wife... that's unacceptable, it's a play yes but not to that extent," reads one comment on Facebook.

Another comment read: "This is unMalawian, it's a play but I guess they could not have gone to that extent, after all I hear she is married."

But Mhango-Chavula said people do not understand drama because it is only acting, not real.

"I did not go overboard, people have nothing to say, my husband knows it's all acting and nothing else. I am happily married to him and I am happy he understands. For others it could be difficult and that is why I am not married to them," she said.

Mhango-Chavula was spotted with her partner during the Big Brother Africa (BBA) Stargame launch at Crossroads in Lilongwe last Sunday.

However, others have argued that there is no problem with her kissing in the play as long as it did not go outside the play.

"Malawians learn to appreciate drama, this woman is cool, I have watched her and she really brings emotions to a play," reads one comment.

This was not the first time that Chavula has been captured kissing in a play; she also did the same in the same play when they first staged it at the now closed French Cultural Centre (FCC) in Blantyre.

She also starred in the same play with another Nollywood actor Desmond Elliot where she was also captured kissing in one of the scenes.

Van Vicker visited the country last month where, among others, he starred in a Rising Choreos play titled Well Calculated.

The play also featured celebrated musician Lucius Banda. The play has romantic scenes which saw Mhango-Chavula starring as Lynn and Van Vicker playing as Bill. Both Van Vicker and Mhango Chavula are married.

Well Calculated centres on three beautiful and ambitious girls on a mission to succeed in life no matter what it takes but only one lady has the platform and that is Lynn.

"I do not see any problem with kissing in the scene because it is a character doing the kiss and not the actress or actor. As long as it's in character, I do not see anything wrong," said dramatist and playwright Smith Likongwe.

Likongwe, who is a drama lecturer at Chancellor College, said it is important in a play to act with some sense of truth.

"If a kiss is in a scene then I have no problem because acting requires some sought of truth in it but it should be said that this should not go outside the play," he said.

Van Vicker has starred in many romantic movies and has been involved in many kissing scenes and he said he has had no problems with his wife as she knows "it's only a movie."

"Sometimes my wife does not watch some romantic movies but some friends tell her of some movies where I kiss with women in scenes. She has got used now and she knows I love her," said the heartthrob.