Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Wedding woes, Bollywood style!

Last updated on: August 31, 2017 18:56 IST

If only making it official was as easy as falling in love, says Sukanya Verma.

A couple must cross all sorts of hurdles on their way to the altar as Bollywood has amply attested in gazillion movies.

For the longest time, fate or father would play villain and delay the hero and heroine's union until it was time for better sense and blessings.

But in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, the problem dogging a couple close upon their big day is a medical one, a sexual one -- erectile dysfunction.

With this remake of his Tamil original Kalyana Samayal Saadham, R S Prasanna hopes to bring up a sensitive issue in a lighthearted manner.

While we wait for the Ayushmann Khurrana-Bhumi Pednekar starrer, here's looking at the various problems a pair has faced on celluloid when they expressed a desire for a happily-ever-after.

Oye versus Aiyo

Punjab da puttar Arjun Kapoor and Tam Bram cutie Alia Bhatt go from cootchie-cooing to culture clashes once their displeased folks learn about their inter-caste leanings in Chetan Bhagat's 2 States.

 

Hindu-Muslim, bhai bhai!

Nothing screams skulls and crossbones like a Hindu-Muslim love story.

No wonder Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala are forced to make a run for it in Mani Ratnam's controversial Bombay.

Six-year-olds in the closet

Some people have secrets, some a son.

Like Salman Khan and his precocious lad from a fling about whom Twinkle Khanna discovers right before they are to wed in Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai.

Once bitten twice shaadi

Shah Rukh Khan, who is married to Preity Zinta, loves Rani Mukerji.

Rani, who loves Shah Rukh, is married to Abhishek Bachchan.

Wedding bells will have to wait until their divorces come through in Karan Johar's easy-peasy take on infidelity, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.

Boyzoned!

Sometimes he's just not that into her.

Fawad Khan's sexual preference doesn't go down too well with his achisi bahu-obsessed mom in Kapoor & Sons.

Underage woes

Sridevi plays a fairy romancing an eight year old after he's magically transformed into an adult in Salman Khan's body in Chandramukhi.

And because it sounds creepy as hell, he waits another 18 years before he can legally charm her socks off.

Overage woes

At 60 something, Amitabh Bachchan is a tad too old for Paresh Rawal to accept as a dream daamad for his daughter Tabu in Cheeni Kum.

Haanikarak Bapu

Shah Rukh learns about karma's biting back ways the hard way after he ends up falling for the daughter of a man he stole beer from.

Except grumpy Amrish Puri would rather marry off Kajol to an oaf in his homeland than a stinking rich NRI.

Crooked love

Law breaking tapori goondas are a strict no-no in any shuddh desi household.

Jackie Shroff's Hero gets no love from sweetheart Meenakshi Seshadri's family of cops even though he mends his ways and plays a mean flute.

Mooch ado about nothing

No moustache, no character growls Utpal Dutt voicing his strong dislike and disapproval for Amol Palekar's clean-shaven version and closeness to his daughter Bindiya Goswami in Golmaal.

Ek lo ek muft

Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit's starry-eyed plans for a marriage video sequel in Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! are thwarted after the latter's sister dies, leaving her in the potential danger of turning bhabhi over biwi.

The Pandit logic

These slave-to-astrology parents are a nightmare for most kids, but Akshay Kumar knows how to outwit them just fine.

Like planting a prosthetic finger on girlfriend Bhumi Pednekar in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha so that it meets his traditional father's bizarre approval.

Corpse Bride

Not all quick fixes go as planned.

Like that time Suraj Sharma accidentally marries Anushka Sharma's ghost in an absurd attempt to ward off misfortune right before he weds his childhood sweetheart in Phillauri.

Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon

Turns out it's not Bobby Deol's politically influential father but -- spoiler -- his insecure, mentally-unstable, dagger-stabbing ladylove Kajol in Gupt the only reason he cannot accomplish the happy ending he had in mind.

Atonement No 1

Govinda's dad's roadside scrap with Karisma Kapoor's granddad sounds the death knell for their romance until our man decides to masquerade as an all-rounder domestic help and win over her topsy-turvy khandaan's hearts inspired by a certain Hrishikesh Mukherjee film.

Making deals with Jesus

God forbid if you're in love with a devout like Katrina Kaif in Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

Every time she enters the church, she gives up something hoping her prayers are answered.

This bargain business gets truly bonkers after she offers up beau SRK in exchange of his speedy recovery.

Cabbie, hubby #sameguy

Can you really blame Suresh Oberoi for going all huff and puff about his phoren-returned millionaire beti Karisma Kapoor wanting to marry a taxi driver of a picturesque hill station in Raja Hindustani?

Red blood, blue blood

Class divide rears its ugly head in court dancer Madhubala and royal prince Dilip Kumar's forbidden romance that meets with an angry thumbs down from the latter's emperor daddy.

Guns 'n' Roses

Hailing from rival gangs and dushman camps makes 'it's complicated' a permanent scenario for Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone's Romeo and Juliet-inspired star-crossed romance in Goliyon Ki Raas Leela: Ram Leela.

*

Sukanya Verma