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In Bollywood a relationship with the right person is the best accessory to fame.
In the past, film stars did not flaunt their love affairs in public. But now, faced with flops and a sense of insecurity failure brings, they make sure that their exploits are made into sizzling cover stories.
Films are sold on the strength of supposed relationships - the more illicit the better. The ways of Bollywood are unusual, but unchanging.
On screen, the images are the same. The hero sings and chases the heroine around the trees.
Duets are sung with multiple costume changes — lavish settings and songs by the dozen. Of course, not all love themes can be happy. Even here, the approach has not changed.
In the case of obstacles in the path of their love, the hero and heroine sing sad songs. In extreme situations, the hero takes to drinking but continues with the sad songs.
Cut to real life. Here the approach to love has changed dramatically. Screen heroes and heroines continue to fall in love.
The possibility of a reel-life romance being a real-life relationship is too delicious to resist.
These days stars do not even bother denying a rumour; they happily go along with it. But the rules of the game are all about being in the public eye.
Unparalleled
Recently, yesteryear actress Vyjayanthimala in her autobiography, Bonding…A Memoir, says that showman Raj Kapoor resorted to such measures to propel his film's fortunes.
Glamorous actress Nargis and Raj Kapoor played it cool for nearly eight years before they split up.
But Nargis did not hold a press conference to explain why she decided to marry her Mother India co-star, Sunil Dutt. Rather, they went their separate ways quietly.
Then there was the sizzling affair between Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and the eternal temptress Rekha which remains unparalleled to this day. Many a film was a result of their passionate love affair.
Their most famous film, Silsila, will forever be remembered for being the true tale of a love triangle.
These days the whole world knows that Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja are together despite the pair maintaining they are just good friends - just good enough to exchange puppies as gifts and enjoy expensive cozy-twosome dinners.
Love Story 2050 has only benefited from their relationship.
We read reports that current Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor fell head over heels in love with Sonam Kapoor while working together on their debut film Saawariya.
Then the romance went on hold as Ranbir set his eyes on Om Shanti Om starlet Deepika Padukone. After his fling with her was over, he returned to Sonam.
Now he is back with Padukone and their film Bachna Ae Haseeno is releasing next month. Coincidence?
Finding love, making up and breaking up just always seem to happen just before a film premiere.
Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur split just before the release of their film Jab We Met. Film pundits said that it was a ploy to make the film a box-office draw.
The December 2004 pictures of Kareena and Shahid Kapur locking lips in a public arena are also looked as a publicity stunt. The graphic pictures appeared on the front page of a Mumbai tabloid and led to vehement denials from both stars.
A few days later, Kapur's Dil Maange More was released and it went on to become a rocking hit.
Hit
When news leaked that Kareena Kapoor's current flame Saif Ali Khan was going around with actress Bipasha Basu, it piqued the masses' interest in their film Race. The film went on to hit the box office jackpot.
So now what's the connection between Kismat Konnection's stars Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapur? The purported bond between Kapur and Balan is said to be for the sake of their new film.
A few days ago, Balan had said at a press conference in Dubai that Kapur is just a very "good friend" but at another press conference, held a few days later, the same actress took her relationship a little further saying that she may consider Kapur's proposal.
Will it help at the box office? We will know soon.
Singh is Kinng is one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year. The movie stars none other than Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif; their fourth project together.
The pair's onscreen romance in these films has propelled Kaif's career as a Bollywood heroine in a very short of time. The speculation about their off-screen romance has only fuelled further interest in the two.
We all know that they both already have partners but the rumour of their off-screen love affair has generated ample publicity for their film. Though Kaif is new to the industry, she knows her way around.
It is reported that Salman Khan is dating super hot model Bruna Abdullah, whom he cast in his home production Veer!
As for Akshay Kumar, many a leading lady has been burnt by his flame—from Ayesha Jhulka and a then ravishing Raveena Tandon to lissome Shilpa Shetty and Pooja Batra.
When famed Bollywood actor turned producer, Aamir Khan separated from his wife, his name was linked to co-star Preity Zinta despite frequent denials from the actress.
He-man hero Sunny Deol was supposed to carry the torch for star Dimple Kapadia while Sunjay Dutt's name was linked to every heroine he worked with.
Hall of fame
But the most (in)famous of all current Bollywood romances has been the one between Salman Khan and the beautiful Aishwarya Rai.
Muscle boy Salman was always big news. Khan's relationship with Rai has a prime place in Bollywood Hall of Relationships.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam became all the more special as the duo's real-life passion spilled over onto the big screen.
But the relationship soon turned sour with rumours of Khan forcing his way into her shootings, crashing his car into the wall of her bungalow, keeping midnight vigil and making endless phone calls and threatening her when she moved on to new boyfriend Vivek Oberoi.
Oberoi went public and revealed all this at a press conference. Result? Oberoi's career came to a virtual standstill. For the media, it was bonanza time.
The Khan-Oberoi-Rai war vied with the real war in Iraq for space on the front pages of newspapers. With fast developments, whatever they wrote was stale news.
But Rai never publicly acknowledged her relationship with Khan or Oberoi. So, it is no surprise that Rai is now married to Abhishek Bachchan - a family notorious for their politically correct standing.
Bachchan and Rai fell in love during the making of Umrao Jaan, but their relationship was made official only at the premiere of Guru.
Though Umrao Jaan has been written off as miserable flop, Guru is one of the finest films to come out of the Hindi film industry.
Recently, Rai rejected Karan Johar's Dostana because her character is not written to stay alongside her husband.
Then we have stars like Bipasha Basu - who does things her own way. Basu has always been extremely forthright about her relationships.
Notwithstanding her brief but torrid affair with footballer Christiano Ronaldo, Basu and John Abraham make such an electric couple that people soon forget her flops and always remember the hit Jism.
Just before the release of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, a break-up rumour did the rounds. What saw Abraham and Basu through the rough patch was not love, but huge endorsement deals they had signed as a couple.
At the end of the day relationships in Bollywood follow a simple formula: Work does take precedence over relationships. So if your role in a major film requires you to have one, you get yourself one.
If not, lead people on to think you have one. And if the relationship does not boost your career, you let it go.
Pressure of success
Bipasha Basu zoomed ahead of Dino Morea personally as soon as she did professionally. Her chemistry with John Abraham was strengthened once Jism was declared a hit.
Lara Dutta parted ways with Kelly Dorjee, her companion for almost a decade, as soon as her career began to pick up.
Kareena Kapoor broke off her pairing with Shahid Kapur before Jab We Met was a smash hit.
No effect on box office
There are times when relationships have no effect on films' performances at the box office.
Kareena Kapoor's pairing with Saif Ali Khan in Tashan was an unmitigated flop.
A brief fling between Vidya Balan and John Abraham on the sets of Salaam-E-Ishq did not help the film.
Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai's only film together Kyun! Ho gaya Na, did not even get a decent opening.
And Partner, which starred Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan, was a hit even though the two were paired opposite other actors when they were officially together.
Did you know?
Kareena Kapoor had a major crush on a very engaged Hrithik Roshan. When it became clear that the passion would not come to pass, Kapoor opted out of Kaho Na Pyar Hai and went on to debut in Refugee.
Elder sister Karisma Kapoor was once engaged to Abhishek Bachchan and few know what led to their split.
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