In Bollywood when a pair clicks with audiences filmmakers rush to recreate the magic. Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt did it with Gully Boy and then Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. But not every hit Jodi gets a sequel on screen. Take Sunny Deol and Madhuri Dixit — their pairing in the 1989 blockbuster Tridev was a crowd favourite yet they never acted together again. Tridev directed by Rajiv Rai was packed with star power — Sunny Deol Madhuri Dixit Jackie Shroff Naseeruddin Shah Sonam and Sangeeta Bijlani. Its songs like Gali Gali Mein and Tirchi Topiwale became chartbusters. The film swept three Filmfare Awards in 1990 and cemented Sunny and Madhuri’s status as a hit pair. But that was also where their on-screen journey ended. Different routes to stardom In the late ’80s and early ’90s Sunny Deol was carving a niche as Bollywood’s action powerhouse — the “angry young man” of his era. His focus was on high-voltage action dramas that showcased his physical intensity. Madhuri Dixit on the other hand was Bollywood’s dancing queen excelling in romance comedy and family entertainers. Their career choices rarely overlapped. While Tridev worked because of its ensemble cast finding another project that fit both their cinematic strengths proved difficult. Producers preferred to pair Sunny with action-oriented heroines and Madhuri with co-stars like Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt who matched her romantic and musical style. Rising competition and new alliances The industry at that time was brimming with leading men vying for the top spot. Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt were gaining traction and Madhuri was flooded with offers opposite them. Naturally she took on projects that aligned with her career path while Sunny’s action persona drew him elsewhere. The friendship that remained Even if their on-screen pairing was short-lived their off-screen camaraderie survived. Years later Sunny and Madhuri appeared together on a dance reality show where they recreated their Tridev magic by performing to one of its iconic tracks. Some Bollywood pairs leave behind a long filmography; others just one unforgettable memory. Sunny Deol and Madhuri Dixit’s Tridev remains firmly in the latter category.