Life doesn’t always give you second chances, but when it does, few can bounce back and make the chance worth it. It’s the same with Bollywood on-screen couples. While one might think that a particular hero and heroine will set the screen on fire with their chemistry, you might end up with a damp squib instead. However, some couples have just managed to fire it up with their second or even third chances together!
Shah Rukh Khan-Kareena Kapoor
Even as the fearless warrior royalty in Asoka, Kareena Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan did nothing for audiences who were looking forward to their sizzling chemistry. Kareena & SRK’s dare bare acts may have satisfied the oglers, but their jodi was jinxed. Bebo’s appearances with Shah Rukh in Don and Billoo weren’t significant either. It was only with Ra.One that they finally set fireworks cracking!
Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif
To be fair, both the stars were going through a slump in their careers. And to add to this, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif’s Humko Deewana Kar Gaye was a run-of-the-mill tale of two lovers. But suddenly after Namastey London, the leggy actress and her daredevil co-star had a string of successes like Welcome and Singh Is Kinng. While their chemistry is quite hot, it doesn’t seem to be enjoying its previous temperatures after De Dana Dan and Tees Maar Khan.
Salman Khan-Kareena Kapoor
The doctor-patient role-play in Kyon Ki… didn’t help, neither did they work as the estranged couple in Main Aur Mrs Khanna. For a couple that looked so good in ads, what went wrong on screen? Finally, it was Bodyguard that helped break the jinx for Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. But to be honest, Bodyguard worked more for the star power than for their chemistry.
Abhishek Bachchan-Rani Mukerji
Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji did a forgettable film in 2001 titled Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai…; their chemistry on screen was as good as that between furniture in a room. But suddenly in Yuva, the two almost burst into flames. Even while Rani constantly henpecked him in Bengali, Abhi and Rani looked gorgeous on-screen. No wonder that Bunty Aur Babli recreated their magic on screen, albeit not with the same smouldering intensity.
Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor
In a streak of badly coloured hair and equally bad films, Kareena Kapoor starred opposite her then boyfriend Shahid Kapoor in films like Fida, 36 China Town and Chup Chup Ke. The couple finally struck gold with Jab We Met where a babbling Kareena kept Shahid mum for most of the movie. Surprisingly, the couple broke up soon after. (Though Milenge Milenge released in 2010, the film was completed quite some time back but was stuck because of a tiff between the makers.)