‘Hamare paas SRK hai!’

If Katrina Kaif were to rephrase the most memorable Hindi film dialogue and ask her arch rivals Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra — “Mere pass success hai, luck hai, tumhare paas kya hai?” both girls would quickly reply, “Hamare paas Shah Rukh Khan hai.”
Yup, Kareena is SRK’s heroine in RA One, and Priyanka will do Don-2 with the Badshah of Bollywood. And that’s one ace they have up their sleeve. Kat has wanted to work with SRK since her Namastey London days.She had gone on record then to say, “My sisters want me to do a film with Shah Rukh.’’ However, Bollywood’s most charismatic star has distanced himself from her reportedly because she is Salman Khan’s girlfriend.
Post July 16, 2008, when the famous SRK-Salman fight happened, chances of Kat working with SRK have slimmed further.
Of course, all is not lost for Katrina. Today she can tell Kareena that she has hot property Ranbir Kapoor in her film kitty. Someone Bebo can’t team up with. “Ranbir and Kareena are brother and sister. And pairing them would be foolish,’’ says trade analyst. Likewise, Bipasha Basu may not end up romancing Salman on screen despite that heavy duty hit No Entry. Post that film Salman and John Abraham had a difference of opinion over some stage shows. Now even if Bips wants to be in a Salman film, the industry has their doubts whether the temperamental superstar will ever agree.
“This is collateral damage,’’ says the same trade analyst.Bips herself says, “I’m too much of a professional. And, I have no issues with anyone. Besides John and I never interfere in each other’s careers.’’ However, just the fact that they are involved is enough to keep Salman at bay, say insiders.
But honestly are stars actually above true feelings? Sometimes their “we are very professional” statements sound hollow because the truth is that they will not work with certain actors whatever may be the box office gratification.
The PR machinery of Vidya Balan and John continues to float stories of how they’re teaming up soon. However, insiders say that there is stress every time a producer approaches them for a film. And unless it is a desperate situation, John will not upset the apple cart by working with the Ishqiya actress. Their Salaam-e-Ishq controversy is not completely forgotten.
Akshay Kumar may not do a movie with Priyanka Chopra because there is too much water under the bridge. And Abhishek Bachchan would certainly not do a Dostana sequel with Vivek Oberoi or Salman Khan in it. This phenomenon of superstars refusing to work with their arch-rivals’ spouse or girlfriend is not new to the Hindi film industry. For the longest time a Bollywood superstar of the 80s refused to work with an attractive actress who was living in with his arch rival.
And, though some of the actors on the ‘hit’ list would make combustible screen pairs with each other, one may not get to witness this magic because Bollywood stars are as human as they come. They hold grudges just like most people do.