diff --git a/client/src/components/bunny-video-modal.tsx b/client/src/components/bunny-video-modal.tsx
index 037034f..2fa88b5 100644
--- a/client/src/components/bunny-video-modal.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/bunny-video-modal.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
-import { X, Share2, Edit3, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
+import { X, Share2, Edit3, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, Play } from "lucide-react";
 import { type Video } from "@shared/schema";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { apiRequest } from "@/lib/queryClient";
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export default function BunnyVideoModal({ video, isOpen, onClose, onEdit, videos
   const [showShareMenu, setShowShareMenu] = useState(false);
   const [showControls, setShowControls] = useState(false);
   const [controlsTimeout, setControlsTimeout] = useState<NodeJS.Timeout | null>(null);
+  const [showPlayButton, setShowPlayButton] = useState(true);
 
   // Navigation functions
   const getCurrentVideoIndex = () => {
@@ -94,6 +95,17 @@ export default function BunnyVideoModal({ video, isOpen, onClose, onEdit, videos
   const handleVideoClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
     e.stopPropagation();
     showControlsTemporarily();
+    setShowPlayButton(false); // Hide play button when clicked
+  };
+
+  const handlePlayButtonClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.stopPropagation();
+    setShowPlayButton(false);
+    // Try to trigger video play via postMessage to iframe
+    const iframe = document.querySelector('iframe');
+    if (iframe && iframe.contentWindow) {
+      iframe.contentWindow.postMessage('{"method":"play"}', '*');
+    }
   };
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -295,6 +307,17 @@ export default function BunnyVideoModal({ video, isOpen, onClose, onEdit, videos
                 </div>
               )}
               
+              {/* Central play button */}
+              {showPlayButton && (
+                <Button
+                  onClick={handlePlayButtonClick}
+                  className="absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 transform -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 bg-black bg-opacity-60 hover:bg-opacity-80 text-white border-none p-4 rounded-full z-40 transition-all duration-300"
+                  size="lg"
+                >
+                  <Play className="w-8 h-8 fill-white" />
+                </Button>
+              )}
+
               {/* Invisible overlay for controls interaction */}
               <div 
                 className="absolute inset-0 z-10 cursor-pointer"
@@ -312,7 +335,7 @@ export default function BunnyVideoModal({ video, isOpen, onClose, onEdit, videos
                   const timeout = setTimeout(() => setShowControls(false), 1500);
                   setControlsTimeout(timeout);
                 }}
-                style={{ pointerEvents: showControls ? 'none' : 'auto' }}
+                style={{ pointerEvents: (showControls || showPlayButton) ? 'none' : 'auto' }}
               ></div>
               
               {/* Navigation buttons - show/hide with controls */}