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Why Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's love story may just break your heart

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Soumyadipta Banerjee
Soumyadipta BanerjeeJun 22, 2018 | 00:39

Why Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's love story may just break your heart

Throwback to Virushka

"Main hamesha khayal rakhunga..."

Just as an emotional Virat Kohli looked into his partner Anushka Sharma's eyes and uttered these words, her expression changed to one of sweet surprise.

She stared deep into his eyes, looked away, smiled and then said, "Main bhi..."

Now that is an ad starring the couple, not a rare moment of PDA.

The ad soon became a viral sensation. Incidentally, by the time it was streamed on YouTube, the whole nation was talking about the impending "secret marriage" of Virat and Anushka. Speculation was rife that the couple had got engaged and even met a Pandit in Hrishikesh to proceed with the nuptials.

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As news reports about their wedding surfaced on the internet, this ad was also released on TV. When Virat and Anushka (#Virushka came into being on the social media) wed in a private ceremony in Italy, this advertisement became a blockbuster of sorts back home.

In India, we think with our hearts. If you give us "content" that tugs at our heartstrings, it is an instant hit. Be it a film, an ad, fiction or news, nothing can stop a story from "going viral" if it has some real-life romantic appeal.

We love a good story — an emotional story that makes our eyes moist, excites us or just makes us giggle.

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In India, marriage is the only happy ending. Photo: Twitter/Virat Kohli

Believe it or not, even today, the best ending any romantic tale can have is marriage.

In India, we are obsessed with this word. Give us "marriage" and we will put everything aside and pay attention. That is why a love story always works. We want our favourite onscreen Bollywood pair to get married, don't we?

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Now consider this: if you are able to marry a brand or a commercial film with a real-life love story, you have a sure-shot blockbuster.

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And lately, that is exactly what I have been hearing from my trusted sources: the whole dating game between Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt — who will soon star together in the film Brahmastra — is a build-up for purely commercial reasons.

A cinematographer friend, who occasionally makes ad films, "broke" this news to me.

"Look boss," he said, "in Bollywood, only 30 per cent films are hits. A real-life romance between the lead pair may work wonders for a film. If we can build up a narrative that Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are dating, then there are some people who will buy the tickets just to see them together on screen. On the other hand, film critics will spend at least two paragraphs in their review talking about the couple's on-screen chemistry and brands will fight with each other to get both actors on board. It's a win-win situation for everybody."

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Love stories are the ultimate 'PR bramhastra'. Photo: India Today 

He then showed me a discussion thread on a WhatsApp group which ad filmmakers like him and advertising professionals are part of. There seemed to be a unanimous verdict that "Alia-Ranbir" are the "hottest ad property" in town. One of the members added that a brand is bidding top dollars to get the two actors together for an ad that will go on air a month prior to the release of Brahmastra.

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That night, I called up a PR friend to ask how she perceived the whole Ranbir-Alia hush-hush love story.

"It's all fake!" she exclaimed. "Have you heard them saying specifically that they are in love? Or that they are dating? No, right? They are just throwing broad hints here and there. Or, say going for dinners together. If you look closely, they are not admitting that 'they are in love', forget about getting married. I don't think they are dating. Right now, it's just a build-up," she said.

According to her, when the time comes, one of them will perhaps put an end to the "love story" with the Bollywood cliché, "Oh! we are just good friends!"

Then, almost in a whisper, she went on to say: "Look, no media will promote a film directly but everybody is game for a great real-life love story. By the time their film arrives in the market, all of you will be obsessed with Ranbir and Alia. What's the harm in serving you a real-and-reel-life love story?"

A couple of phone calls more, and I had gathered that there are supposedly three ads in the pipeline and a few more brand endorsements along with the Bollywood film they are doing together. If the film is a hit, we know what will happen next: a few more big-budget Bollywood projects. I had no doubt now as to why ad filmmakers perceive Ranbir-Alia as one of the "hottest brands in town".

Their "love story" is the handiwork of a great marketing brain. After a few months of build-up, when rumours are at their peak, the audience will see them together, both on the big and small screens.

The nation will ride on this mushy love story.

And then one day, everybody will have their hearts broken.

That is why I say, never underestimate the power of the good old love story.

Last updated: June 22, 2018 | 00:39
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