SHAH RUKH KHAN is the king of Bollywood. And, as is the case with royalty, he has always had a queen by his side. After playing the heart-throb for over 15 years, where he romanced almost all the note-worthy actresses in the industry, he will now be seen in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi with Anushka Sharma.

While we wait with bated breath to see if this pair will sizzle on screen, it's time to look back at the actresses who have shared the screen with Shah Rukh.

KAJOL

Couple-o-graphy: Baazigar, Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaaenge (DDLJ), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G).

Couple-good: Five movies. Five superhits. What a scorecard.

No wonder this pair has been branded as Bollywood's royalty. SRK-Kajol's on-screen romancing has always struck a sweet chord with the audience.

Coincidentally, all five movies were also emotionally charged dramas that moved the audience to tears.

They have played lovers in DDLJ (1995) as well as a married couple with a child in K3G (2001) and truly have done justice to all stages of couplehood.

This is the benchmark.

JUHI CHAWLA

Couple-o-graphy: Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Darr, Ram Jaane, Yes Boss, Duplicate, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and One Two Ka Four.

Couple-good: Shah Rukh has done more movies with Juhi than any other heroine. For many years to come, he will be mimicked f o r saying "K-k-k-Kiran" - Juhi's onscreen name in Darr (1993).

When they first shared screen space in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Juhi was the bigger star of the two. As the years rolled by, the balance shifted but the chemistry remained alive. The fact that in real life they are good friends and business partners has added to the on-screen zing.

MADHURI DIXIT  

Couple-o-graphy: Anjaam, Koyla, Dil To Pagal Hai, Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam and Devdas. Couple-good: Shah Rukh's first movie with Madhuri, once the undisputed queen of Bollywood, was Anjaam (1994).

Since then, they have done intense dramas, befitting their tremendous histrionic capacities.

Madhuri, with her timeless looks and her amazing acting, complemented him

RANI MUKHERJEE

Couple-o-graphy: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Chalte Chalte, Paheli, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Veer Zaara.

Couple-good: This pair hit it off extremely well with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) in which Rani had a cameo. It took another five years before she had a full-fledged role as SRK's heroine in Chalte Chalte (2003).

They seem to effortlessly blend into each other on screen.

PREITY ZINTA  

Couple-o-graphy: Dil Se, Kal Ho Na Ho, Veer Zaara and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. 

Couple-good: The Liril girl, with her pretty little dimples, blew the audience away with her debut as the diminutive girl who was to marry Shah Rukh in Dil Se (1998) but who's always lost her man on screen.

There is still a good chance that they may come together again and, hopefully, she'll get to walk into the sunshine with him.

AISHWARYA RAI

Couple-o-graphy: Josh, Mohobattien, Shakti and Devdas.

Couple-good: They did four movies and it would have been five if she didn't get dropped from Chalte Chalte when her then boyfriend, Salman Khan, created a ruckus on the film set.

She was replaced by Rani. Their hottest screen pairing was Devdas. Draped in lovely saris and jewellery, Ash complemented Shah Rukh perfectly. After two gauzy, dreamy romances, the pair did an item song Ishq Kamina for Shakti... and it sizzled.

Bollywood News Service