1. Kareena Kapoor and Sumeet Vyas: Veere Di Wedding

Considering the story revolved around Kareena, and the movie relied on glam characters and equally glam setting, Sumeet Vyas was an unexpected actor to cast. And yet he seemed the perfect choice to play Kareena’s fiancé. 

2. Alia Bhatt & Vicky Kaushal: Raazi

Even though the two were the perfect match in terms of acting potential, no one would have thought of casting an independent, emerging actor like Vicky Kaushal with a mainstream star like Alia Bhatt – and yet their subtle chemistry was absolute perfection!

3. Ranbir Kapoor & Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

This was as unconventional a pairing as there can be, and yet it would not be a stretch to say the two literally sizzled on screen and looked completely comfortable with each other. 

4. Karishma Kapoor and Manoj Bajpayee: Zubeidaa

Karishma Kapoor was known for typical Bollywood entertainment movies, while Bajpayee was the quintessential method actor. But this movie proved it, that all an unconventional pairing needs is a good story. 

5. Kareena Kapoor & Diljit Dosanjh: Udta Punjab

Even though Diljit Dosanjh is a well-known face in the world of Punjabi cinema, even he could not believe that he was paired alongside Kareena in the movie. And yet, the two lent an authenticity to their roles. 

6. Ranbir Kapoor & Konkona Sen Sharma: Wake Up Sid

Not only opposites in terms of their movie choices, as characters too, Konkana and Ranbir comfortably convinced us that opposites do attract. This intelligent casting made their pair far more realistic than many other Bollywood pairs we’ve seen.  

7. Irrfan Khan & Deepika Padukone: Piku

It wasn’t just their characters that looked completely opposite each other – even the actors have had a very varied filmography. And yet, the two fit together in the movie like pieces of a puzzle. 

8. Irrfan Khan & Parvathi: Qarib Qarib Single

Parvathi had us convinced about the struggles of a middle-aged single woman, and Irrfan worked his comic timing with an unexpected ease, but it was their subtle chemistry that became the highlight of the movie. Unexpected it might have been, but if there was an award for perfect casting, it would go to this movie.

9. Anushka Sharma & Parambrata Chatterjee: Pari

It is only when you see the movie that you realize that Anushka and Parambrata look effortlessly good together, and are the main reason you believe the love story between an unusual pair: a simple man and a demonic girl. 

10. Naseeruddin Shah & Madhuri Dixit: Dedh Ishqiya

An old romantic falling in love with a widowed begum may feel like a chaste affair, but the unusual pairing of Naseeruddin Shah and Madhuri Dixit made sure it was anything but that! Backed with an unusual but interesting story, this was one couple that is hard to forget. 

11. Anushka Sharma & Neil Bhoopalam: NH10

As a producer, Anushka Sharma has broken the mould not just with her movie choices, but also with the casting in said movies, and she proved it right from her first movie, where she was cast along with Neil Bhoopalam. And they looked absolutely perfect together.

12. Anushka Sharma & Diljit Dosanjh: Phillauri

In Phillauri, Anushka and Diljit managed to bring alive the innocence of the time in which their romance was set. And while individually they were brilliant in their performance, together, they made for an even more adorable pair. 

13. Vidya Balan & Manav Kaul: Tumhari Sulu

Manav Kaul and Vidya Balan’s pairing turned out to be an unexpected gem in this movie. Their chemistry was relatable, their interactions felt honest and the two stars, despite never having shared the screen before, made their characters come alive in a way it is hard to imagine other stars doing. 

 14. Rahul Bose & Mallika Sherawat‎: Pyaar Ke Side Effects

Their movie choices are as different as their acting styles. And yet, Rahul and Malaika made the perfect couple in this quirky movie. 

15. Boman Irani and Farah Khan: Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi

For her debut film, Farah managed to wow the audience, and her incredibly talented co-actor, Boman Irani obviously played a big role in that. 

Clearly, the casting that we may have never imagined, can do wonders for the movie, if only it fits the story. Bollywood, let go of the cliched pairings maybe?