If love Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand showed how love can be magical, Guru Dutt showed how love can be biter too.

Dutt's obsession with his discovery, Waheeda Rehman, gave Indian cinema a glimpse of the nihilistic power of love. When it came to love, Guru Dutt chose sacrifice rather than satiation.

In Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), he was even willing to forsake his wife (Rehman), when he learnt that his best friend was besotted by her.

Dutt's classics Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and Pyaasa (1957) show the angst and turmoil of a sensitive soul caged in a cruel society which stops true love from blooming.

The Guru Dutt-Waheeda Rehman romance will always be remembered for its brooding intensity.

Another evergreen Bollywood pair.

Their first movie together was Tarana (1951) and the two got along off screen as well. Next came Sangdil (1952) and Amar (1954).

But their most remembered movie together was Mughal-E-Azam (1960). A royal Dilip Kumar and Madhubala's classic beauty brought to life the doomed love story of the courtesan and a prince.

Off screen too, theirs was a doomed love story.

Love and hurt are two sides of the same coin; no one depicted that better than this romantic couple.

A charismatic macho man and the dream girl of a country -- the recipe for movie magic!

Dharmendra and Hema Malini's hugely successful pairing gave producers a string of hit films like Naya Zamana (1971), Raja Jani (1972), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Jugnu (1973) and Dost (1974). The icing on the cake was Sholay (1975).

Dharmendra's comic scenes with Hema -- feeling her up on the pretext of teaching her how to fire a gun or speaking to her as the 'voice of god' or, of course, his 'soo-cide' threat -- were among the many highlights of the Ramesh Sippy classic.

With her tightly draped, navel-baring saris, she was the original oomph girl. With his trademark onscreen mannerisms, he was the original superstar.

Together, they gave moviegoers gems like Do Raaste (1969), Bandhan (1969) and Sachcha Jhutha (1970).

And boy, did they evoke mass hysteria!

They were the teenage heartthrobs of the 1970s.

When Neetu and Rishi danced to Ek main aur ek tu in the campus caper Khel Khel Mein (1975), they held the audience spellbound. And they made movie magic with Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976) and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977).

And the darlings of the masses became a hit pair off screen too.

Most -- if not all -- Hindi movie lovers feel the Amitabh-Rekha chemistry remains unmatched.

Two of the most enigmatic Bollywood stars ever, their onscreen chemistry sizzled in hits like Do Anjaane (1976), Khoon Pasina (1977), Ganga Ki Saughand (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Suhaag (1979), Mr Natwarlal (1979).

And, of course, Silsila (1981).

One of the most successful combinations to hit Hindi movies, Anil Kapoor and Maduri Dixit entrenched themselves as a screen pair with Tezaab (1988).

Her grace complimented his ruggedness and the duo starred in a string of hit films like Ram Lakhan (1989), Parinda (1989), Jamai Raja (1991), Kishen Kanhaiya (1990) and Beta (1992).

The badshah of Bollywood and an absolute natural. Need we say more?

Right from their very first film together, Baazigar (1993), Kajol and Shah Rukh made it clear that a new pair had arrived.

They underscored that with Karan Arjun (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001).

And of course, they also gave us a certain 1995 movie called Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge!

Bollywood's best lovers

Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan

She -- Rani -- is your girl next door and he -- Abhishek -- is the heir to megastardom. She has emerged as Bollywood's reigning queen and he seems poised to outgrow his dad's formidable shadow.

Abhishek proved his mettle with Yuva, which also gave us a glimpse of the onscreen chemistry between him and Rani. Many saw shades of Jaya and Amitabh in them.

And the success of Bunty Aur Babli has firmly entrenched them as a romantic pair in the audience's minds.