B-town couples who create magic!

Two of our biggest producers have posh projects lined up. I am not worried about Karan Johar. But I am definitely worried for Sajid Nadiadwala.
Hum baney tum baney ek duuje ke liye... sang Rati Agnihotri to Kamal Haasan in a film about a cross-cultural romance that swept the nation 32 years ago. “I don’t know what you say,” Sang S.P. Balasubramaniam as Lata Mangeshkar giggled.The nation giggled and skipped a beat each time Kamal shrugged his shoulder at Rati’s fast-flowing Hindi and Urdu in the songs and dialogues. Like Kamal Haasan, Hrithik Roshan, too, seems to say to Barbara, “I don’t know what you say.”
But there’s a difference. Barbara and Hrithik shared very warm vibes during the shooting of Kites. Kamal Haasan and Rati couldn’t stand each other while they shot Ek Duuje Ke Liye. There was so much friction between them that the desperate director K Balachander forbade them from any interaction off-camera. The passionate on-screen pair were not on talking terms during the shooting of most of Ek Duuje Ke Liye. How real the chemistry between Rati and Kamal Haasan looked! Looking at them could anyone guess they couldn’t stand one another? Real-life couples locked in passion plays are a no–no. That’s why I’m not worried about Karan Johar’s Dostana 2. Abhishek and John Abraham are definitely not a real-life couple. But I am worried about Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra’s first-time togetherness in Sajid Nadiad-wala’s Anjaana Anjaani. If, as rumoured, the couple were involved during the film’s shooting in the US, then God help the box office! However before good old Sajid hits the panic button let me quickly assure him that both the players in the hypothetical collaboration have individually told me that all the smooching and romancing was strictly for the camera. I believe you. However hear what a very saleable and libidinous young actor has to say about working with sexy actresses. “If there’s stimulation it’s bound to get hard for the actor. We’re human after all.” Precisely. So Ranbir and Priyanka, we shall put in the ‘could-be’ category. Imran Khan-Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor-Imran Khan are definitely on. It can’t be a coincidence that one of the most beloved star-pairs in recent times are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-Hrithik Roshan. Mrs Rai Bachchan and Mr Roshan would look convincing in Guzaarish because they are so far removed from each other’s orbit in real life. I can only recall three real-life pairs which have worked on screen. Raj Kapoor-Nargis, Rajesh Khanna-Mumtaz and Hema-Dharmendra. That apart, from Sivaji Ganesan-Savithri and Sunil Dutt-Nutan to Shah Rukh-Kajol and Hrithik-Aishwarya... the most crackling chemistry on screen is generated by couples who save it all up for the camera. We’ve some truly passionate moments coming up in the rest of the movies this year between virgin (ahem ahem) couples.
Ranbir and his American co-star Sarah Thompson steal more than just coy glances in his latest film. Hrithik and Katrina, I am told, share more than just a passing interest in Zoya Akhtar’s next. And in Mausam Shahid Kapoor and Sonam promise to light up a bonfire of real passions in the cold Scottish climate. Maybe soon we’ll get to see a really passionate moment on screen like what Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna shared during the song Roop tera mastana in Aradhana. Sure it beats what we saw Sharmila’s son share with Kareena Kapoor in Kurbaan. So hot and blood and passionate on their own. So tepid together! Yeh chakkar kya hai?
Check out Imran Khan’s homepage
Follow us on Twitter for more stories