Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
A look at Bollywood's real life north-south alliances:
This week's release, 2 States, sees a Punjabi boy (played by Arjun Kapoor) fall in love with a Tamilian girl (played by Alia Bhatt).
We've seen such romances, where a north Indian pairs up with a south Indian, a few times in the movies. But it's repeated more often in real life.
And in Bollywood.
A look at real life Bollywood north-south alliances:
Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Abhi and Ash's wedding was a huge event. Gosh! they have been married seven years this month.
Abhishek's superstar pa hails from Uttar Pradesh while his mother is a Bengali. His paternal grandparents, the legendary poet Harivanshrai Bachchan, was a native of Allahabad, and his grandmom Teji Bachchan, was Sikh.
Aishwarya was born into a Bunt family in Mangalore, Karnataka, and grew up speaking Tulu.
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Vidya Balan and Siddharth Roy Kapur
Image: Vidya Balan and Siddharth Roy Kapur.Born into a Tamil Brahmin family, originally from Palghat in Kerala, Vidya Balan wed the dashing Siddharth Roy Kapur, the child of a Punjabi father and a Jewish mother, last year.
The wedding was a traditional Tamil affair, preceded by a Punjabi-style sangeet.
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Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao
Image: Aamir Khan and Kiran RaoAamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao hails from Bangalore, Karnataka, but grew up in Kolkata.
Her paternal grandfather was J Rameshwar Rao, the Raja of Wanaparthy and her first cousin is the actress, Aditi Rao Hydari.
Aamir is a full blooded Mumbaikar, but his family has its origins in North India.
Kiran and Aamir's son Azad Rao Khan is named after one of Aamir's ancestors, the legendary freedom fighter, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
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John Abraham and Priya Raunchal
Image: John Abraham and Priya RaunchalJohn's dad Abraham is a Malayali; his mom Firoza is Parsi.
Los Angeles-based Priya Runchal, his wife, hails from the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh.
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Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra
Image: Shilpa Shetty and Raj KundraShilpa Shetty may be a Mumbaikar like Aamir and John, but her family, like Aishwarya Rai's, are Bunts from Mangalore, Karnataka.
Shilpa married Raj Kundra, a Punjabi who was born and brought up in London, five years ago.
The marriage ceremony was Bunt, but there were very Punjabi sangeet and mehendi ceremonies before the wedding.
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Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupati
Image: Lara Dutta and Mahesh BhupatiBorn to a Punjabi dad and an Anglo-Indian mum, Lara Dutta married tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, a native of Bangalore.
Mahesh's dad Krishna is Hindu while his mum Mira is Christian.
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Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Alva
Image: Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka AlvaVivek Oberoi is a product of a north-south alliance, and has carried forward that impressive tradition.
Vivek's father, the actor Suresh Oberoi, is a Punjabi while his mother Yashodhara is a Tamilian.
Vivek married Priyanka Alva, daughter of the late Karnataka politician Jeevaraj Alva and his Punjabi wife Nandini, nee Seth.
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Sridevi and Boney Kapoor
Image: Sridevi and Boney KapoorSridevi is Telugu; Boney is a Punjabi from Mumbai.
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Dharmendra and Hema Malini
Image: Dharmendra and Hema MaliniBollywood's Original Punjabi-Tamilian Couple.
Dharamji is a Jat from the Punjab though he has lived in Mumbai for over 50 years.
Hemaji is an Iyengar from Tamil Nadu, who came to Mumbai to become the Dream Girl.
He may be in his late 70s; she will be 66 this October, but can age ever dim their awesome looks?
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Suniel and Mana Shetty
Image: Suniel and Mana ShettyAnother Bunt star, Suniel Shetty, is married to Mana, whose father Iftikhar M Kadri is a distinguished Mumbai architect from an aristocratic Gujarati family and late mother Vipula Kadri, a social activist, hailed from Punjab.
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