Here's a bit of an embarrassing fact: I'm a big sap at heart and I completely eat up the idea of a Bollywood romance; you're very likely to find me staring googly-eyed at those Bollywood scenes that others may call cliché and cringe at. For this reason, I've always maintained that Bollywood has ruined my chances of finding the 'perfect' guy, simply because it has raised the standards so high that I can't ever imagine someone meeting them (waiting to be proven wrong, btw). I know we all have our fictional crushes--mine can perhaps be contained in a book the size of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix--so I'm doing it Bollywood-style on this blog and telling you about the characters I'd marry in a heartbeat (in no particular order). I'm splitting this up in two posts, because apparently I can get really ramble-y when talking about the characters I love. ;)
Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor; Jab We Met)
There's something undeniably appealing about a quiet, brooding guy who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders--you inexplicably want to fix things for him. But then there's something more appealing about the guy when he snaps out of it and you discover that beneath all the sulking, there's a guy who is fun, loves to sing, and is genuinely good. And good he is--which other kind of guy would travel across India to accompany a girl home just because it is apparently his fault that she missed her train? And which guy would help the girl (whom he has fallen in love with) run away from her home and into the arms of another man? Which guy would then track down the girl after finding out that all's not well with her, bring joy back into her life, reunite her with her family, and then still try to patch things up between her and her estranged lover? Only an all-out good guy, that's for sure. As Geet rightly says in the movie: "Tumhare upar koi bhi ladki flat ho sakti hai." ("Any girl would fall for you.")
Prem (Shahid Kapoor; Vivah)
This character is almost single-handedly responsible for me falling in love with Shahid Kapoor. There's nothing to not like about this guy: he's got that endearing innocence, he's charmingly awkward, he tries to accept Poonam's completely traditional ways even if he doesn't understand it all the time, he studied Literature (*swoon*), aaand he doesn't turn his back on her even when tragedy strikes. Perfection.
The All-Out Good Guy
These are the complete good guys. Sincere, lovable, and always doing the right thing.
These are the complete good guys. Sincere, lovable, and always doing the right thing.
Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor; Jab We Met)
There's something undeniably appealing about a quiet, brooding guy who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders--you inexplicably want to fix things for him. But then there's something more appealing about the guy when he snaps out of it and you discover that beneath all the sulking, there's a guy who is fun, loves to sing, and is genuinely good. And good he is--which other kind of guy would travel across India to accompany a girl home just because it is apparently his fault that she missed her train? And which guy would help the girl (whom he has fallen in love with) run away from her home and into the arms of another man? Which guy would then track down the girl after finding out that all's not well with her, bring joy back into her life, reunite her with her family, and then still try to patch things up between her and her estranged lover? Only an all-out good guy, that's for sure. As Geet rightly says in the movie: "Tumhare upar koi bhi ladki flat ho sakti hai." ("Any girl would fall for you.")
Prem (Shahid Kapoor; Vivah)
This character is almost single-handedly responsible for me falling in love with Shahid Kapoor. There's nothing to not like about this guy: he's got that endearing innocence, he's charmingly awkward, he tries to accept Poonam's completely traditional ways even if he doesn't understand it all the time, he studied Literature (*swoon*), aaand he doesn't turn his back on her even when tragedy strikes. Perfection.
The Urbane Gentleman
The smooth, sophisticated, smart guys.
Kabir (Rahul Khanna; Wake Up Sid)
I see a lot of myself in Aisha (Konkona Sen Sharma's character in Wake Up Sid), but the one thing I would have done differently is pick Kabir over Sid. He's suave, smart, an editor (brb, dyinggg), and incredibly good-looking. Sorry, Sid, as much as I love you, your immature self doesn't hold a candle to the amazingness that is Kabir. Of course, what adds to my adoration of this character is that Kabir seems very similar to what Rahul Khanna is actually like, so my affection for Rahul Khanna transcends into this character. But either way, Kabir managed to win my heart--and I'd even be willing to tolerate all that jazz, just for him! :D
Arjun Burman (Abhay Deol; Aisha)
People the world over are in love with Mr Knightly--how could I possibly resist a Bollywood-ized version of this well-loved character? Arjun is the perfect mix of snide and kind, the guy who tells it as it is--and has the ability to bring larger-than-life Aisha down a peg or two--but is still undeniably gentle in doing so. Add to that his confidence, sophistication, and dimples, and you've got me swooning. To top it all off, he confesses his love for Aisha in true Bollywood fashion: by climbing up a ladder to her window! And you expected me to resist this guy? Pffft, as if.
Okay, that's enough of the guys for now. Part two is coming soon and features four more of the Bollywood characters I'd love to marry. Till then, share your list with me! ;)
