'Buzz since we announced Kareena' - Karan Malhotra

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2013)

On August 30, we brought you news that Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha have been approached to share screen space in Anees Bazmee's upcoming film Welcome Back. Bazmee's phone has been ringing off the hook ever since. Like we said, who wouldn't welcome them back (together)!

And the superstar pairing is just the tip of the latest casting trend, reuniting former lovers in reel life. And like everything in Bollywood, the box office collections are at the crux of this phenomenon too.

Leading distributor Devendra Shah says that such pairings have set cash registers ringing in the past, making it a popular trick.
"There is a lot of curiosity when you cast exes opposite each other. Everyone wants to see how former lovers fare in each other's presence. This shoots up the collection, which in turn boosts the market value of the actors in question. It is a win-win situation," said the distributor adding that such pairings fuel gossip, aiding the publicity machinery of the films too.

Kabir Khan who cast Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the superhit Ek Tha Tiger despite their several off-screen skirmishes, says that most actors don't let personal troubles enter the sets.

"More than anything else, today's set of actors have become very mature. There is no awkwardness, there is no animosity. They don't let their personal baggage come in the way of their professional life," said the filmmaker.

And the young lot of actors are indeed at the forefront of this trend. And they are not shy of talking about it too. Not so long ago, Ranbir had spoken about his equation with ex-girlfriend Deepika saying, "Deepika and I come with a lot of baggage, but we can't let it affect our work."

Another example of a pair with a personal history is Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra who are working together in Milan Talkies.

Recently in an interview to this paper, Kareena Kapoor who was linked to Hrithik Roshan during the days of Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon had said that she has long wanted to reunite with him onscreen.

Karan Malhotra who has brought them together (quite a casting coup, one must say) for his upcoming Shuddhi tells Mirror, "I am starting the film next year but let me tell you that ever since we announced Kareena's name as the leading lady opposite Hrithik, there has been a lot of buzz around the film. Today, actors are not looking over their shoulders. Whether it's Kareena-Hrithik or Deepika-Ranbir, it is clear that they have decided to keep their emotions aside and concentrate to bring out the best on celluloid."

Trade expert Taran Adarsh says that the trend is a new one as exlovers rarely collaborated after a break-up earlier, with famous examples including Madhubala and Dilip Kumar, Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit.

"Earlier, former couples chose not to work with each other. And even if they did, the producers were wary of casting them because they felt that they would throw too many tantrums on the sets," said Adarsh.

Shah says, "Once you have convinced ex-lovers to work with each other, the market price of your film is enhanced. Who wouldn't like to milk such a situation?" Adarsh endorsed the opinion saying, "The promotions of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani focused on the two actors being ex-lov