Gone are the days when casting predictable pairs like Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol and Leonardo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet was considered safe for directors. 

Now, Bollywood and Hollywood film-makers are not only choosing to work with offbeat content but also experimenting with odd pairings.

According to film trade analyst Komal Nahta, an unusual pairing will definitely become a hit formula only if the script is convincing and actors are comfortable with each other. 

“The pairing needs to justify the content. If the script demands, then any unconventional pair can work. Even the audience nowadays are looking forward to newness and novelty in a storyline,” Nahta told The Woods.

While some pairings are a visual treat on screen, few made us cringe. Here are some of the handpicked fab and drab couples of tinsel town.
 
Ajay Devgn and Parineeti Choprain Golmaal Again (2017)

The Rohit Shetty-directed thriller-comedy, which is currently ruling the box office charts, was in the news even before its release especially for the odd casting of 48-year-old Ajay Devgn with 29-year-old Parineeti Chopra. Post its release, the “sibling-turned-lover” relationship between Devgn and Chopra did manage to tickle our funny bones. Shetty even took the liberty to include innocuous one-liners referring to the age gap between Gopal (Ajay) and Khushi (Parineeti). Overall there was not much golmaal over the pairing.

Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhattin Dear Zindagi (2016)

The 2016 movie, directed by Gauri Shinde, was like a whiff of fresh air with stellar performances and an endearing storyline. Kiara (Alia), a 20-year-old aspiring filmmaker, and Dr Jahangir Khan (Shah Rukh), a therapist in his mid-40s, made for an unusual pairing that belied normalness. As we secretly kept on expecting some mushy chemistry between the duo, we were only blissfully smitten by their unconventional relationship.

Jiah Khan and Amitabh Bachchanin Nishabd (2007)

The Ram Gopal Verma film traced an intimate relationship between a 60-something Bachchan and 18-year-old Jiah. The pairing with a poor script made the audience cringe with Bachchan coming under attack from a certain section of society for playing such a character. 

Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan in Piku (2015)

Steamy scenes and mushy proposals cannot be the staple ingredient for all Bollywood movies and Piku is one such example. Trust Shoojit Sircar to come up with a love story with Deepika and Irrfan, and centred around the Big B. While Deepika won numerous accolades for giving body and soul to the character, it was Irrfan who made their chemistry look all the more alluring.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledgerin Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Who said chemistry is only between man and a woman. The impeccable pairing of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, two straight men playing gay characters, made the film an instant sensation. They kiss, steal glances and yet never outright admit their love for each other. Released at a time when it wasn’t cool to play a gay, neither of the actors balked at the challenge and gave the viewers an all-time special film.

Debina Bose