Real couples fail to sizzle on reel

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai didn’t quite set the screen on fire in Umrao Jaan. This is the pair’s third flop after Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke and Kuch Naa Kaho.
 
Umrao Jaan is not an isolated case. Off-screen chemistry has off late not reflected on screen. Shahid Kapur-Kareena Kapoor, Viveik Oberoi-Aishwarya Rai, Dino Morea-Bipasha Basu and John Abraham-Bipasha also failed to click.

Rewind Earlier, Raj Kapoor and Nargis, Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman, Dharmendra and Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha and Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh shared great on-screen chemistry too. Their movies clicked. Current scenario However, the scenario has changed.

Ash and Abhishek failed to create magic in Umrao Jaan.

Shahid looks better on screen with Amrita Rao than with Kareena. The only film of the much-talked-about Viveik-Aishwarya pairing,

Kyun! Ho Gaya Na

, was a disaster. Even couples such as John Abraham and Bipasha Basu or Dino Morea and Basu did not set cash registers ringing. Post

Jism

, Abraham and Basu starred in flops like

Aetbaar

and

Madhoshi

.

And Ajay Devgan and Kajol had only two hits together in

Ishq

and

Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha

. Reason This could be for several reasons.

The lead pair by itself cannot determine the fate of a film. However, with so much being written about off-screen chemistry, expectations rise. “People expect something extraordinary on screen,” says Tanveer Khan, who directed Madhoshi.

The pressure is one reason that Basu and Abraham gave themselves a break. You cannot work for the heck of it, says Bi pasha. “Factors like whether it helps the casting or our careers have to be considered,” she says.

Presentation also matters — in Fida, Kareena was in love with Fardeen Khan and Shahid was the odd man out. Even the fact that 36 China Town hardly had anything to offer in terms of showing the two together had an effect on the audience.

However, Priyadarshan, who directed Chup Chup Ke says that he cast Shahid and Kareena in the film as he felt “they were the best suited for the roles”. Elaborating on the pressure, he says down south directors hesitate to cast couples who are seeing each other off screen.

Many feel the storyline also matters and the fault lies with filmmakers. “Make a romantic film and cast Shahid and Kareena in the lead and then see the result,” says a trade analyst. If that’s the case, Abhishek and Aishwarya needn’t worry.

E-mail author: digantaguha@ hindustantimes.com