Bollywood is now going experimental and trying unusual lead pairs like Akshay Kumar-Chitrangada Singh, Irrfan Khan-Priyanka Chopra, Abhay Deol-Sonam Kapoor and also Ajay Devgan-Kangana Ranaut. Much of this can be attributed to the offbeat scripts and the new age themes.

 

The audiences will now get to see Chitrangada of “Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi” fame with Bollywood’s Khiladi Akshay Kumar in Rohit Dhawan's “Desi Boys”. Also our very own Priyanka Chopra or Piggy Chops has been paired opposite Irrfan Khan in Vishal Bharadwaj's “Saat Khoon Maaf”. Apart from these two jodis, Abhay Doel, best known for his offbeat cinema will share screen space with the very commercial Sonam Kapoor in “Aisha”. Ajay Devgan too, is part of the experimental bandwagon and will work opposite Kangana Ranaut in Ekta Kapoor's forthcoming “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai” which is a movie based on underworld.

 

Film critic Omar Qureshi, feels that the shifting trend id due to the fact that it is difficult to get two big stars to work together due to their busy schedules. He says, “There are a handful of big stars and many a time directors run out of stars because of their busy schedules. These days scripts give directors the freedom to experiment and give a fresh look to the story.”

 

He added, “Now people are looking for performances in films. Star value is not the only unique selling proposition of the movie, unlike earlier when we mostly saw fixed pairings of Dharmendra with Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan.”

 

Film critic Anupama Chopra spoke about Karan Johar’s “Wake Up Sid” that was being viewed as a big risk before its release. After the movie released, however, it appealed to the audiences and eve to the critics. She says, “Konkona was the perfect match for that role. The role demanded someone who did not look like a typical teen but someone who is mature, unlike the slacker played by Ranbir.”

 

She adds, “There is a dearth of good and saleable stars in the Hindi film industry, which produces more than 200 films in a year. When it comes to casting, the choice usually boils down to four Khans, Hrithik and Abhishek and the topmost four heroines.”

 

The unusual pairing has worked for Konkana even before in “Omkara” with Saif Ali Khan and in “Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge” with Ajay Devgan.

 

It has however, not always worked. Irrfan Khan’s pairing up with Lara Dutta in “Billu” and with Juhi Chawla in “Krazzy 4” did not work while his “Namesake” opposite Tabu was appreciated.