Bollywood jodis: A fresh twist to unusual film pairs

In a new trend, established filmmakers are experimenting with unusual pairs.

Fresh pairings are the norm this season. What’s more, filmmakers are going a step ahead to grab eyeballs by introducing unusual pairings in their films. And it’s not just new filmmakers, even established names, who are known to work with a particular set of actors, have taken to this trend.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor star in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. (RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT | MANOJ VERMA/HT | HT PHOTO)

Thus, filmmaker Aditya Chopra who usually works with actor Shah Rukh Khan has traded him for a much younger Ranveer Singh in his next directorial venture, Befikre. And one film old, Vani Kapoor has been cast alongside Singh in this romantic drama. An ecstatic Ranveer says, “It’s a matter of great pride for me to be playing Aditya Chopra’s next leading man. It’s an honour for me to be cast after Shah Rukh Khan in his films.”

Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won’t kiss Ranbir Kapoor for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

SRK and Alia Bhatt will be seen together in a still-to-be-titled film by Gauri Shinde. (YOGEN SHAH | HT PHOTO)

R Balki who has admitted that Amitabh Bachchan was his go-to actor for his films has chosen Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan for his next film, Ki and Ka. Speaking about the unusual pairing, Kareena was recently quoted as saying, “The odd pairing works because there is something about it which is very organic.”

Ditto for Karan Johar who has taken a break from working with SRK and has chosen to work with Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma in his next directorial, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The added advantage of having an odd pairing is that it creates a mystery element. While everyone knows the film is a love triangle, Karan isn’t willing to reveal more.

Read: Kareena, Arjun take a dig at ‘Hindustani sabhyata’ in Ki and Ka trailer

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Arjun Kapoor star in R Balki’s Ki and Ka. (Rohan Shrestha | YOGEN SHAH | HT PHOTO)

Ashutosh Gowariker is also pairing Hrithik Roshan with newbie Pooja Hegde in his next project - an epic adventure romance.

Read: Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan to star in Gauri Shinde’s next

R Balki’s wife, Gauri Shinde is pairing Alia Bhatt with Shah Rukh Khan and Vishal Bharadwaj is working with recent favourite Shahid Kapoor and pairing him with Kangana Ranaut. Maneesh Sharma has also opted to pair Shah Rukh Khan with rank newcomer Waluscha De Souza.

Vaani Kapoor and Ranveer Singh are working with Aditya Chopra in his next film. (AFP | VIRAL BHAYANI | YOGEN SHAH)

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh calls it a welcome trend. “It is nice to see that filmmakers are opting for different and new faces even after making a successful film with established actors. This helps the filmmaker grow and it is a healthy sign.”