New-age Bollywood is smart enough to keep personal problems aside if reuniting on screen with an ex-flame spells success. Unlike in the past, when a break-up in real life normally meant two stars would never come together to work in a film, no matter how well the roles suited them, the current lot seems to be far more practical in this context.
A prime example comprises Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. The duo was Bollywood's most glamorous couple for a while. Till Yuvvraaj in 2008, which saw them share cold chemistry on screen, bombed. Very soon, Katrina was cosying up to Ranbir Kapoor on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti. The short fling with Ranbir over, Katrina became friends with Salman again. She was 'gifted' a major film soon enough - the Kabir Khan-directed Ek Tha Tiger, which will see her reunite on screen with Salman later this year, so what if latest buzz suggests she is more than friends with Ranbir once again.
While on Ranbir, he is back to working with ex-lover Deepika Padukone in Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani despite a very publicised fallout. In fact, the grapevine suggests the reason for Deepika's split with Kingfisher scion Siddharth Mallya was that she insisted on doing the Ranbir film.
Elsewhere, Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor are back to working together in Kunal Kohli's Teri Meri Kahaani after their stormy break-up last year. They will also be seen in Siddharth Anand's yet-untitled film. Does the ex-factor in signing films signify growing maturity for our newgeneration stars? Or are these desperate career moves, considering there are only those few stars who ensure bona fide hits?
Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif back together in Ek Tha Tiger
Kabir Khan's Ek Tha Tiger is being touted as 2012's biggest release. Salman is working in a Yash Raj production for the first time, and the spy thriller shot across continents marks Salman's return with Katrina for the first time since Yuvvraaj.
What happened: Katrina entered Salman's life at a time when he was nursing wounds of a break-up with Aishwarya Rai. Soon, Salman had taken up the challenge of moulding the half-Brit Kat, who still struggles to speak in Hindi, into Bollywood's number one female star. Almost all the initial films Kat bagged were because of Salman. The real turnaround came in 2005, when she starred opposite Salman, by then her steady boyfriend, in Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?.
The break-up happened in 2008, shortly after Yuvvraaj bombed. Around the same time, Kat was drawn to Ranbir Kapoor on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti. Twist in the tale came when Ranbir was reportedly floored by his Rockstar costar Nargis Fakhri a few months later. Kat demanded commitment, Ranbir insisted he wasn't ready to settle down, and Kat was rushing off to Salman for solace.
Kat and Salman have been friends since then though the buzz suggests sparks might again be flying between her and Ranbir. For now, she is back with Salman in Ek Tha Tiger. Wait for a Ranbir-Katrina announcement soon. This girl knows how to play her cards.
What will happen: For Salman, teaming with Kat again gives him options at the top level beyond Kareena Kapoor, since he is openly hostile towards Bollywood's only other superstar heroine Priyanka Chopra. A hit with Katrina will ensure box-office clout, and also re-affirm his status as filmdom's large-hearted godfather.
Katrina benefits more from the patch-up. She jumped the gun by latching onto Ranbir thinking he was all set to take over as number one, but realised after Dabangg that Salman was here to stay. Worse, Salman had aggressively started promoting Sonakshi Sinha and Asin, which was going against Kat.
Shahid Kapoor & Priyanka Chopra back together in Teri Meri Kahaani
Kunal Kohli's Teri Meri Kahaani is a love story that spans different eras. Priyanka and Shahid will essay four different sets of lovers as the story moves from one time period to another.
What happened: Even before they have wrapped up Teri Meri Kahaani, Shahid and Priyanka are all set to sign Siddharth Anand's next film. The decision on the part of both stars would seem strange considering they were not willing to even attend each other's calls barely a year ago after a stormy split.
The two stars came close on the sets of Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey and the real-life chemistry showed on screen, too. At the height of their affair, Shahid was spotted in Priyanka's house during an IT raid in January last year. Priyanka was all alone at home and Shahid is said to have opened the door to the tax officials at 7 am in his boxer shorts.
Even as the buzz gathered about their affair after the incident, the industry was shocked to know of their split barely a month later. The first signs were noted when Priyanka took off to the US around February 25, Shahid's birthday. Soon, it was learnt they were no longer a couple.
What will happen: Priyanka signed Teri Meri Kahaani for obvious reasons. While her talent is unquestionable, she urgently needs a strong role to prove her mettle once more - especially since her last heroine-oriented project 7 Khoon Maaf bombed. Kunal Kohli's film, which lets her play four different characters, is being touted as her most unconventional experiment yet. Also, given her animosity towards Salman Khan, who openly dictates terms in the industry, Priyanka doesn't have many options among male co-stars beyond Shah Rukh Khan. A patch-up with Shahid was imminent.
Shahid on his part needs a big hit after the debacle of Mausam, and Teri Meri Kahaani is a big project. He, too, seems to be fast running out of co-stars.
Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone back together in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a coming-of-age road movie. Ayan's earlier flick, Wake Up Sid, had worked wonders for Ranbir and the actor returns with Deepika for the first time since 2008's Bachna Ae Haseeno.
What happened: Deepika and Ranbir's romance started on the sets of Bachna Ae Haseeno. The reasonable success of the film brought them close.
The affair was stormy from the word go. Ranbir's parents, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, didn't exactly like Deepika's wild lifestyle. Worse, Rishi Kapoor openly admonished Deepika in interviews after she, along with Sonam Kapoor, took a few jibes on Karan Johar's talk show at what they suggested was Ranbir's philandering ways. In less than a year, there were chinks in the relationship - especially when Ranbir was drawn to Katrina Kaif on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti.
What will happen: Both Ranbir and Deepika desperately need a saleable co-star. Ranbir cannot be paired with cousin Kareena Kapoor on screen, and his only option is Deepika if you consider he is still shy to work with Katrina after the break-up.
Deepika is in the dire need of a hit after a dismal 2011 that saw the duds Aarakshan and Desi Boyz. On her part, she has been insisting nothing is wrong between her and Ranbir even after the break-up. She has been trying to get close to him for a while now - in fact, she has been known to organise screenings of her films for Ranbir even after their split. She is also said to have aggressively lobbied to bag Ayan's film.
On screen, Ranbir and Deepika will probably be seen together frequently from now on, since it suits both to work together. Off the screen... it's an open playing field for both right now.
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