Director-actor jodis with a proven track record reunite this year!

A good chemistry between the lead pair augurs well for the film, but now the actor-director jodi is gaining prominence, even more than the hero-heroine pairing. Once they form a good rapport, directors often choose to work with the same actor or actress across projects.

In recent times, we have seen several such director-actor jodis churning out hit films. From Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty, Ranbir Kapoor-Ayan Mukerji, Salman Khan-Kabir Khan, Ranveer Singh-Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Shraddha Kapoor-Mohit Suri, these pairs have created magic at the box-office.
As trade analyst Amul Mohan says, “There is a sense of connectivity with the audience. Rohit and Ajay have a big partnership and it’s resulted in great box-office success. Similarly, over the last few years, Ranveer and SLB have had two back-to-back superhits. The Kabir-Salman pair is one of the best combinations working together. Audiences are now looking forward to their favourite actors with favourite directors.”And this year, several such actor-director jodis are reuniting for their next. Here’s a lowdown on the hit pairs...

Ayan Mukerji - Ranbir Kapoor
DRAGON (FILM NO. 3)

They met for the first time when Ayan cast Ranbir in his debut directorial Wake Up Sid. Not only did the coming-of-age film win critical acclaim, it was the start of a great friendship between the director and his muse. It continued through Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, the second film they did together. This masala entertainer was completely different from their first outing and also turned out to be a 100 crore hit. And now, Ayan and Ranbir are teaming up for their third, a superhero flick Dragon. More importantly, this new-age director wants to make films only with his BFF. So, while Ranbir has done films with other directors, Ayan hasn’t worked with anybody other than the Kapoor scion. Not only that, Ayan has even confessed to feeling extremely jealous when Ranbir works with other directors! Now, with the two back together again, there is a great buzz in the market about their upcoming film. Let’s see if the pair manages to charm the audience again...

Salman Khan - Kabir Khan
TUBELIGHT (FILM NO. 3)

The first time they did a film together Ek Tha Tiger, they had creative differences. While Kabir was known for his realistic portrayal (Kabul Express, New York), Salman was a larger-than-life hero. Their approach to a film was different. As Kabir said in an earlier interview, “We took time to understand each other and how we wanted to approach the film.” But by the end of the film, they were in harmony and went on to become good friends. What’s more, Ek Tha Tiger was a huge hit, and for his next film Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kabir not only got the superstar on board as an actor, but even as a producer! And now, the duo has teamed up for their third film Tubelight. This love story set against the backdrop of the Indo-China war has Salman playing a special role — that of a person who is slow in learning and grasping things, the reason the film is called Tubelight. From a larger-than-life hero to a grounded, earthy character in Bajrangi Bhaijaan to a special person, Salman has trusted Kabir to bring out the humane side in him and the director is touching upon the character sensitively. Given their track record, it won’t be surprising if they will again create magic at the box-office.

Rohit Shetty – Ajay Devgn
Golmaal 4 (FILM NO. 10)

He made his directorial debut Zameen with Ajay, but it flopped. However, three years later, when Rohit decided to make Golmaal, Ajay supported him and the film was a big hit. The duo then went on to do several films together. In fact, out of the 11 films helmed by Rohit, nine are with Ajay! These include all the three Golmaals, Singham, Singham Returns and Bol Bachchan. The only two films that, Rohit has done without Ajay are Chennai Express and Dilwale, which starred Shah Rukh Khan. But now, Rohit is back with Ajay for their 10th film together, which is Golmaal Again. The two are so thick that Rohit considers Ajay like his elder brother. Despite that, sometime ago, there was a rift between the two after Singham Returns, which only worsened with Dilwale, even if it starred Ajay’s wife Kajol. Though neither uttered a word against the other, things had cooled down between the two. But all’s well that ends well with the two teaming up for the fourth installment of Golmaal. Needless to say, whenever Rohit and Ajay have got together, they have struck gold at the box office. Golmaal Again shouldn’t be any different. As Rohit says, “After so many films, I know even if I narrate him a line or a short story and tell him I want to make a film out of it, he knows I will take it to a different level, which no other actor would be able to understand. And if I write a character for him, I know to which level he can take it to — like Singham or Bol Bachchan, so there’s very less of homework when we work together. We are both on the same page.”

Neeraj Pandey - Akshay Kumar
CRACK (FILM NO. 3)

Theirs has proved to be a winning combination. Neeraj’s thrillers based on real-life incidents with Akshay Kumar’s larger-than-life persona playing it out have worked wonders at the box-office time and again. They first came together when Neeraj, who has a penchant for anti-casting chose Akshay, hitherto known for his action and comedy roles, to play a serious character in Special 26. The film inspired by the 1987 Opera House heist where a group posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers executed an income tax raid on the jeweller in Mumbai, was a big hit. The duo then teamed up again for a spy thriller Baby, which won both critical acclaim and commercial success. Their next collaboration Rustom had Neeraj as the producer and the film is inching towards the 100-crore mark. As Neeraj said in an interview, “He (Akshay) believed in me and vice versa, this trust has kept us going.” Now, the pair will be back together with Crack and this time, Neeraj will be in the director’s chair. Whether he is producing Akshay’s film or directing him, the two together have the Midas touch.

Mohit Suri - Shraddha Kapoor
HALF-GIRLFRIEND (FILM NO. 3)
Shraddha got a fresh lease of life and tasted success with Mohit Suri’s Aashiqui 2. Even their next outing Ek Villain made `100 crore at the box-office. And now, the actress is back in Mohit’s Half-Girlfriend. The actress in an interview had confessed that she shares a special bond with Mohit. With their first two outings taking the box-office by storm, there is no reason for Half-Girlfriend to not follow suit.

Vishal Bhardwaj - Shahid Kapoor
RANGOON (FILM NO. 3)
He gave Shahid two of the best films of his career. Their first film together Kaminey was a turning point for Shahid, who won rave reviews for his double role in the noir film. After that, the two didn’t team up for a long time and Shahid went on to do potboilers, which didn’t do much for his career. But when they teamed up again for Haider, it won him acclaim for pushing the envelope as an actor. It was also a commercial success. Now, the duo has teamed up for another film, Rangoon, set in the backdrop of World War II. Little wonder then, Shahid calls Vishal his Martin Scorsese. “He has cast me for the third time, so it’s very cool. It’s a pleasure working with Vishal sir,” he is quoted saying in an interview.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali -Ranveer Singh
PADMAVATI (FILM NO. 3)
Ranveer once said this about SLB in an interview, “I am his Robert de Niro and he’s my Martin Scorsese.” While the Hollywood duo has done nine films together, Bhansali and Ranveer have so far teamed up for two films and will soon unite for the third. This is significant because this is the third film the maverick director is doing back-to-back with Ranveer. The flamboyant actor and Bhansali first teamed up for Goliyon Ki RaasLeela — Ram Leela that in a way proved to be a landmark film for Ranveer after his debut Band Baajaa Baaraat. After Ram-Leela, Sanjay chose him as his Bajirao for his period drama Bajirao Mastani. Ranveer shone as the Maratha warrior, winning several awards and accolades. The film was a blockbuster. Now, SLB has cast Ranveer again in his next, Padmavati. But as recent developments have shown, the two might be in something of a stalemate over Shahid Kapoor’s inclusion in the project as the Raja of Mewar, Rawal Ratan Singh.

Aditya Chopra - Shah Rukh Khan
UNTITLED (FILM NO. 4)
He made his directorial debut with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and it is the biggest hit in both their careers. The film played in a Mumbai theatre for 12 years. So it came as no surprise, that Aditya chose SRK for two more films back-to-back. First came Mohabbatein, which was a huge success and then followed by Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, again a hit venture. Now, after nine years, Aditya is back as a director with Befikre starring Ranveer. However, he has already planned his next and this time with none other than King Khan who is rumoured to be playing a warrior in YRF’s costliest film till date. Considering their last three outings have hit the bull’s eye, this one should too.
 

SLB- Deepika Padukone
PADMAVATI (FILM NO. 3)

Apart from Ranveer, if there’s any other actor SLB is working back-to-back it’s with his Mastani, Deepika. The two first teamed up for Ram-Leela and continued their association with Bajirao Mastani. About her performance in the period drama, he had said, “No woman has ever looked so beautiful on the Indian screen in the longest time. I would take Deepika’s performance till the last breath of my life. It’s that dear to me.” Is it any wonder then that he has cast her as his Padmavati, who was known for her beauty, intellect and courage? Can’t go wrong there, can they?

BOX: You win some, you lose some

Vikram Bhatt-Emraan Hashmi
Raaz Rebooted (Film No. 4)

Emraan made his debut with Vikram’s crime thriller Footpath. The film was a moderate success and it was only after a decade that they came together for Raaz 3, which was a hit. Two years later they paired up for an ambitious sci-fi thriller Mr X, in which Emraan played a man who has the power to become invisible. However, the film made in 3D failed to impress. Now, the duo is back with the tried and tested franchise of Raaz with Raaz Rebooted.

Sanjay Dutt - Mahesh Manjrekar
De Dhakka remake (Film No. 6)

Their first film together was Vaastav - The Reality that was a huge hit and also won Sanjay awards. The two then went on to do four films together including Kurukshetra, Viruddh, Pitaah and Rakht. Now, they are teaming for their sixth outing, a remake of Mahesh’s Marathi film De Dhakka. Talking about his hero, Mahesh says, “Sanju’s a guy who depends on the director to guide him. That’s why whenever he’s worked with a good director, he has always excelled in that film. He trusts me and as an actor can follow to the instructions to a T. He gives you exactly what you have in mind and that’s where our chemistry lies.”