BACK WITH A BANG
As actor Anushka Sharma reportedly signs her next with h Shah Rukh Khan, we take a look at other stars who will also team up with heroines they worked with in the past
Anushka Sharma (left inset) and Shah Rukh Khan (left) are teaming up for yet another film. The two first worked together in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) — Anushka’s debut movie — followed by Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ; 2012) and in Imtiaz Ali’s yetuntitled next film. Now, the two will come together again for film-maker Aanand L Rai’s next project, which will also see Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif (above inset) sharing the frame again after JTHJ.
Interestingly, a number of stars, including Aamir Khan (above right), Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar (below left) and Ajay Devgn, have also joined hands with actresses they have worked with.
COMFORT LEVEL
There appear to be many reasons for casting successful pairs in the lead roles. Filmmakers and actors cite “comfort level” and “great chemistry” as one of the essential factors. AnushkaAnu says that her relationship with Shah Rukh has “grown over the years”. “We have worked together and k known each othero for a long time now. So I feel slightly more comfortable with him. Today, I can say that I share a lot of things with him and he is very easy to talk to. We can talk about a lot of things, because he is philosophical,” she says.
Some experts also feel bringing back a hit pair adds an element of “nostalgia”. “It’s always great to see a hit pair together on the big screen [again], as it evokes a lot of nostalgia and a number of fans associate them with their past hits. But a pair has to be really iconic — Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, for instance — to draw audiences on their own merits. But, ultimately, only the content and its quality matters at the box office, ” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi.
THE BIG LINE-UP
The list of other stars getting back together on screen includes Salman and Katrina who will work together again in Tiger Zinda Hai after a slew of films that include Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Partner (2007) and Ek Tha Tiger (2012), while Akshay will be seen alongside his Thank You (2011) co-star Sonam Kapoor (bottom inset). Ajay Devgn — who appeared alongside Tabu in films such as Vijaypath (1994), Haqeeqat (1995), Thakshak (1999) and Drishyam (2015) — has teamed up with her again for Golmaal Again. Lastly, Aamir Khan, who worked with Katrina in Dhoom: 3 (2013) and Fatima Sana Shaikh in Dangal (2016), will star alongside the two in Thugs of Hindostan.
GREAT CHEMISTRY
Speaking about working with Salman, Katrina says, “I have known Salman for so many years now. After shooting with him for a long time, you miss his flamboyance and his fun side. He has a way of living life, where a great energy buzzes around him. He has an amazing aura and warmth around him.” Rumours are also rife that Salman and Katrina will come together for one of film-maker Karan Johar’s production ventures.
For actor Ajay Devgn, it is the familiarity that works. He feels that “everything remains the same [between him and Tabu]”. “Maybe we have become a little more mature in our thinking (smiles). Since we knew each other even before we started working [together], our approach towards each other remains the same. That hasn’t changed,” he says.
Sonam, on the other hand, feels that “it was a completely different experience” working with Akshay for the second time in Padman. “I respect Akshay for doing relevant and content-driven films. He is honest to his work and extremely disciplined as a person,” she says.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt have also starred in hits such as Student of the Year (2012), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania. Among others, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina will be seen together in Jagga Jasoos, after Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) and Raajneeti (2010). Likewise, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone will team up again in Padmavati, after hits such as Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013) and Bajirao Mastani (2015).
This however, isn’t a new phenomenon. Turn back the clock and you will see that back in the ’40s and ’50s, Raj Kapoor and Nargis starred together in 16 hit films, including Barsaat (1949), Awara (1951) and Shree 420 (1955). Other popular pairs such as Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, Dharmendra and Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, and, more recently, Shah Rukh and Kajol, have also shared screen space on several occasions.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra doesn’t look at such castings as a “big deal.” He says: “It [casting hit pairs] doesn’t really matter. Nowadays, the magic of seeing iconic pairs on the big screen has vanished. They come across as forced, instead of something that happened naturally. Even when it comes to real-life pairs, there is no mystery left. The charm has gone away.”