On-screen chemistry for me is in the body language; the way the eyes communicate with each other and express the emotion that is to be conveyed, be it love, hate, passion and so on; and the comfort level when touching is required. It should seem natural and not mechanical. Therefore, timing plays a key part in it. How in-sync are the actors in the give and take of the scene i.e. reacting to the other actor's performance because the director can guide the actors but the sincerity needs to come from within.
However, I get turned off by excessive PDA in a couple as it becomes too in your face. I prefer the subtle chemistry which builds up to intensity at the appropriate times. Just touching, hugging and eye-locking to a BG score, countless times without much context to the scene is repetitive and eventually boring.
Reason I see potential in Shlok-Astha is that their hate scenes still somehow have underlying attraction between them because of how Shlok likes to invade her personal space to irritate her which in turn affects her. Yet, I will add I wasn't really into their lovey-dovey romance that Shlok put on for her as it went to cheesy levels. The first time I felt Shrenu-Avi had apt chemistry was the dream rain sequence in which he was threatening to ruin her. After that some scenes have been hit or miss but I think what was distracting me from enjoying their romance scenes was knowing that it was one-sided love and Shlok was pretending. Shlok's style of romance cannot be so chocolate boyish. It has to be edgy like him e.g. finger biting scenes. 😆
Edited by veracity - 12 years ago