When people walked out of theatres after watching Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu this February,it was not so much the script and characterisation that stayed with them. What worked instead was the novelty and freshness of watching Kareena Kapoor paired opposite Imran Khan and the chemistry that the two actors generated on screen. Similarly,watching the charming Ali Zafar romance the spunky Aditi Rao Hydari in London,Paris,New York with some of the most beautiful locations in the world as the setting,perhaps,helped the film sail through box office. Filmmakers pay special attention while casting the lead pair because they are aware that it can help decide the films fate. TALK takes a look at five couples to watch out for in the upcoming Bollywood films Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer SinghLootera To recreate the 1950s in his romantic period drama,Lootera,Vikramaditya Motwane needed familiar faces,but without the baggage of stardom. Sonakshi Sinha with her conventional Indian looks and Ranveer Singh with his boy-next-door image are completely different personalities,but fit the bill for the lead characters,Motwane believes. Their screen presence,maturity and talent further convinced the director. I watched both of them in their first films,Dabangg and Band Baaja Baaraat respectively,and I couldnt spot a hint of nervousness in their performances. All I could see was their passion for acting, he explains. Katrina Kaif and Shah Rukh KhanYash Chopras Untitled Next Katrina Kaif,for long,nursed the ambition of working alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Perhaps,her ex-beau Salman Khans fall-out with the former curbed Kaif from taking this huge step. However,now that their relationship is a thing of the past,two of Bollywoods hottest faces are coming together to create magic on screen. Apart from the fact that both suit the roles,the fresh pairing creates tremendous interest in the project even before the film is released, says Rafiq Gangjee,VP,Marketing and Communications,Yash Raj Films. The fact that the film marks the comeback of Yash Chopra after seven years,assures that another epic romance is in the making. Mallika Sherawat and Vivek OberoiKismet,Love,Paisa,Dilli (KLPD) The one common thread that binds Mallika Sherawat and Vivek Oberoi together is their love to be in public glare for the wrong reasons. Director Sanjay Khanduri,too,did not think differently. His decision to cast them as a pair was partly influenced by this. Vivek and Mallikas acting skills are underrated because both generate news that the film fraternity finds uncomfortable to associate with. They also do lesser films and are underexposed. But both are fabulous and have proved themselves time and again, says Khanduri. Rani Mukerji and Prithviraj SukumaranAiyya A story of Sachin Kundalkars Aiyya revolves around a Marathi girl,who finds herself physically attracted to a Tamilian boy due to his fragrance. While Kundalkar wrote the female lead bearing Rani Mukerji in mind,the prerequisites for the male lead,now played by Prithviraj Sukumaran,were deep sexy eyes and thin legs,since the man is the symbol of beauty in the film. Overall,both the leads needed to have enigmatic personalities and expressive eyes,because they do not talk to each other throughout the film,but only express through their eyes, the director adds. This could be quite a test for the duo,with one trying to make a mark in Bollywood and other attempting to reassert her position in the industry. Parineeti Chopra andArjun KapoorIshaqzaade Her debut was in a supporting role as the rich,brash,gullible Delhi girl Dimpy in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl but it got her both accolades and a slew of awards this year. On the other hand,Arjun Kapoors first film,Virus Diwan got shelved and he had to start from scratch. Now the two have teamed up for Habib Faisals Ishaqzaade,a tale of two star-crossed lovers. The synopsis of the film bears an uncanny resemblance to the iconic Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,with the lead actors belonging to two warring clans in the Hindi heartland. While it was the innocence of Juhi Chawla and Aamir Khan that worked for QSQT,in case of Chopra and Kapoor,the strong and spunky characterisation is likely to prove to be the winner. PRIYANKA PEREIRA
