BACK TO THE FUTURE
As Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor get set to work together for the second time, we take a look at other actors, who gave their first big hits with each other, and will pair up again on the big screen
Back in 2012, Arjun Kapoor made his big Bollywood debut with Ishaqzaade opposite Parineeti Chopra. Now, five years later, the hit duo is set to return in Dibakar Banerjee’s next, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. “There is so much of give-and-take between me and Arjun. I have a lot of love and share a great camaraderie with all my favourite co-stars. In that sense, my friendship with Arjun is supreme,” says Parineeti.
TRIED-AND-TESTED
Interestingly, not just Arjun-Parineeti, a number of other actors too, who either made their debuts or delivered their first big hits with each other, are set to be seen together on the big screen. While Bhumi Pednekar, who debuted with Ayushmann Khurrana in Dum Laga Ke Haisha (DLKH; 2015), will be back with him in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Anushka Sharma has two films lined up with Shah Rukh Khan — Jab Harry Met Sejal and Aanand L Rai’s next. Anushka debuted with Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008).
“The logic is very simple: if something has worked well in the past, why fiddle with it? Following the same thought, makers repeat a tried-and-tested pair. If a particular jodi has been loved by audiences, it can help replicate the success. But the bottom-line is that such a casting coup must be backed by strong content, otherwise it makes no difference,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi.
The list of hit pairs reuniting goes on. So, while Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, who debuted with Saawariya (2007), will be seen together in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic, Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt are likely to be seen together in Aashiqui 3. “They have been working on the script. I will do the film as I love the concept, but we need the script to have anything concrete to talk about. It’s something we want to do for sure,” says Alia.
I have a lot of love and share a great camaraderie with all my favourite co-stars. PARINEETI CHOPRA, ACTOR
Actors readily admit that working with their old co-stars is “a big help”. Speaking about her equation with Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma says, “My relationship with him has grown over the years. We have worked together and known each other for a long time now. So I feel slightly more comfortable with him. There is always so much to learn when you listen to Shah Rukh talking, because he has had so many life experiences, and I enjoy that kind of friendship with him.”
GREAT ENERGY
Similarly, Katrina Kaif says she has known Salman Khan “for many years now”. The actor says, “After shooting with him for a long time, you miss his flamboyance and fun side. He has a great sense of humour. He has a way of living life, and a great energy buzzes around him. Salman has an amazing aura and warmth around him.” Katrina’s first mainstream Bollywood film, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005) was with Salman, and she will be seen with him again in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Tiger Zinda Hai.
Bhumi Pednekar, on her part, credits the offers she has received so far to her debut in Dum Laga Ke Haisha with Ayushmann Khurrana. “I am living my dream. There are days when I wake up and I think, ‘wow all of this happened because of that one film’. I was initially very overwhelmed by people’s responses to my first film. I was lucky enough to play a character like Sandhya that was so impactful,” she says. The actor will next be seen in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha opposite Akshay Kumar.