Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 19, 2017)

Bollywood has repeatedly proved that there's little correlation between on screen chemistry and off screen equation. The friendly banter that Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor have shared during their 'Jagga Jasoos' promotional spree, it seems, might merely be a front to pique the curiosity of cinephiles. Asked at a promotional event if she would sign another film with Kapoor, an otherwise elusive Kaif surprisingly revealed, "It's very difficult. People now have proof that he is a very trying and testing person. Ranbir has also gestured [to me] to not work on a film together. It will never happen again."

The dumbfounded reporters eagerly awaited a response from Kapoor, who turned down the interaction citing time constraints.

Industry insiders too state that a collaboration between the two is unlikely, but point to their chock-o-block diaries for the development. A director close to both the stars tells mid-day, "Katrina and Ranbir's dates are locked for the next few years. She has 'Tiger Zinda Hai' [alongside Salman Khan] and 'Thugs Of Hindostan', with Aamir [Khan]. Ranbir is busy with the Sanjay Dutt biopic, and 'Dragon' [Ayan Mukerji's superhero drama]."

Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor became Bollywood's celebrated couple when they began dating in 2011. Two years after briefly moving into a Bandra love nest, they parted ways in January 2016. Anurag Basu's 'Jagga Jasoos', is their first outing after they called time on their relationship. Filming for Basu's fantasy had already commenced before the split, and speculations were rife that their unwillingness to work together had eventually stalled the shoot. The duo refused to communicate with each other after resuming filming.

Katrina and Ranbir had previously collaborated on Rajkumar Santoshi's romance drama 'Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani' (2009) and Prakash Jha's political thriller, 'Raajneeti' (2010).