Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma share one of the most celebrated off-screen friendships in contemporary Bollywood. Whenever the duo appears together on talk shows or promotional events, their lighthearted banter and genuine camaraderie instantly win over fans, with old clips of their interactions frequently resurfacing on social media platforms. However, this off-screen magic did not translate into box-office success when they shared the screen as lead actors. On the occasion of Ranbir Kapoor's birthday, it is worth looking back at the films that brought these two stellar performers together, highlighting how their on-screen pairings yielded highly unexpected commercial outcomes.
Throughout their careers, the two stars have collaborated in only three films. Out of these, they shared the screen as the primary romantic leads in just two projects. Their cinematic journey together began with a highly anticipated period drama that unfortunately went down in Indian film history as one of its most expensive experimental failures.
The Massive Commercial Failure of Bombay Velvet
Their first-ever collaboration came in the form of Bombay Velvet, directed by Anurag Kashyap. Released eleven years ago, this movie was structured as a grand period drama, an ambitious cinematic experiment that sought to recreate the retro vibe of the 1970s and 1980s. In this film, Anushka Sharma portrayed the character of a cabaret dancer, while Ranbir Kapoor played a street fighter with big ambitions.
Despite the immense anticipation, the movie turned out to be a massive commercial disaster at the box office. The sheer presence of such top-tier actors could not save the project from its weak screenplay and flawed directorial execution. The film crashed spectacularly, failing to meet even the basic commercial expectations of the distributors and the audience alike.
The Critical Backlash and Slow Run of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Following the disappointment of their first outing, the duo paired up again for Karan Johar's directorial venture, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. While the musical romantic drama generated immense buzz prior to its release, its actual box-office performance was far from smooth, with the film struggling and crawling to make decent numbers.
Film critics were highly critical of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, largely panning its confusing storyline. Alongside the main pair of Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, the film also featured critical performances by Fawad Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Despite the star-studded ensemble and a memorable soundtrack, the movie was deemed a disappointing creative effort by critics, even though it managed to salvage some box-office dignity compared to their previous disaster.
The Blockbuster Exception with Sanju
The third and final movie featuring both stars was Sanju, a cinematic biopic based on the life of Sanjay Dutt. In this blockbuster production, Ranbir Kapoor delivered a career-defining performance by stepping into the shoes of Sanjay Dutt. Anushka Sharma also appeared in the film, but not as his romantic interest; instead, she made a cameo appearance playing the role of a reporter and biographer.
While Sanju went on to become a massive box-office hit, it did not feature Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma as a traditional romantic on-screen couple. Their primary collaborations where they actually led the story together remain defined by their underwhelming box-office performances, presenting a stark contrast to their otherwise beloved real-life bond.
