Bollywood's unconventional couples

The year began with the promos of Imran Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu; and then 'hatke jodis' became the talk of tinsel town.

The Hindi film industry still raves about those days of sizzling jodis like Amitabh-Rekha which later on took a different meaning, or when Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol, Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif ruled the silver screen. But then what's showbiz if you don't think of out-of-the-box'? This year, there are a lot more such 'unlikely' pairs in store for people to watch out for. Recently Madhavan-Bipasha Basu hogged much limelight in Ashwini Chaudhary's Jodi Breakers. And there's certainly much more to follow. Akshay Kumar-Sonakshi Sinha in Prabhu Deva's Rowdy Rathore and Shirish Kunder's Joker, Abhay Deol-Genelia D'Souza in Navdeep Singh's Rock The Shaadi, Ranbir Kapoor-Ileana D'Cruz in Anurag Basu's Barfii, Ranveer Singh-Sonakshi Sinha in Vikramaditya Motwane's Lootera, Imran Khan-Anushka Sharma in Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola and Shah Rukh Khan-Katrina Kaif in Yash Chopra's untitled (reportedly the remake of Daag) are just a few examples.

Although a few previous stints of showcasing unconventional couples (Aisha, Cheeni Kum, Partner) did not work wonders at the Box Office, Wake Up Sid broke the jinx and people loved the equation between the lead pair Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma. Says trade analyst Komal Nahta, "For any movie, good casting always helps. With few actors and fresh faces coming in the industry everyday, it is all about pairing them in a new way. Their chemistry becomes a point to look forward to, for the audiences. How much they compliment each other and their performance is important. The novelty factor is what the producers and directors are aiming at."

Casting is certainly one of the most important factors determining how much moolah a movie garners. Lead pairs occupy much space in the media. About the much-talked about on-screen couple in his romcom, filmmaker Shakun Batra avers, "Casting is an important aspect for the success of any movie. And I think Imran and Kareena were perfect for the characters that I sketched for the script. I've not once had to rethink or regret the decision of pairing these two opposite each other. Imran and Kareena are very different as actors. And Imran really admires and adores Kareena, which has helped the chemistry. When actors understand their part and the script, the chemistry comes alive and that is what is important."

Being paired opposite someone for the first time generates a lot of interest in the minds of the audience well in advance before the release of the film. With critics, trade analysts and other film industry-related experts talking about the offbeat pairs, half of the promotion process of the movie is taken care of. Director Gautham Menon, who cast a dew fresh jodi Prateik and Amy in his romantic movie, says, "It is a completely new pair. They are young and fresh. And fresh casting generates interest in the minds of the audience."

Breaking the image surrounding regular reel couples and creating new chemistry marshals attention of the audiences. Says actor R Madhavan, "Bipasha and I are an unusual and talked about pair. Bipasha has played bold and brash roles and I have played simple, lover boy roles. But it is our diametrically opposite personalities that matters in the end."

As directors and producers experiment with their lead pairs and cast actors with different demeanor, films now surely have a completely new platter to offer to the audiences.