Reader,

The 1990s were a peak era for romantic comedies, and the leading men, who were equal parts charming, awkward, and sincere, made a lasting impression on us. But they didn’t do it alone. Paired with some of our most beloved actresses of the genre, they helped define what modern love looked like on the big screen.

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But where are those leading men (and the unforgettable actresses beside them) today?

Hugh Grant, the poster child for awkward British charm, starred opposite Julia Roberts in Notting Hill, Andie MacDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice.

After his rom-com reign, Grant shifted to more dramatic and darker roles, with recent performances in The Undoing, Heretic, The Glass Onion, and A Very English Scandal, as well as movies like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He even played an Oompa Loompa in Wonka. But he is still witty, still wry, and entirely watchable.

Tom Hanks, America’s movie sweetheart, made magic with Meg Ryan in my favorite romcoms, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. (We are not going to talk about Joe Versus the Volcano.) Their on-screen chemistry was undeniable.

Today, Hanks continues to be a reliable leading man in drama and historical films, most recently in A Man Called Otto and Elvis. As well as holding the screen alone for most of the movie, Castaway. Meg Ryan, meanwhile, made her directorial return with What Happens Later (2023), reuniting with the romantic genre she helped shape. And he will be back next year as Woody in Toy Story 5.

Shah Rukh Khan, often called the "King of Romance" in Indian, Hindi language movies, aka: Bollywood. He built his legendary career with pairings featuring Kajol (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), Rani Mukerji (Chalte Chalte, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna), and Preity Zinta (Kal Ho Naa Ho). His 2023 blockbusters, Pathaan and Jawan, proved his enduring star power.

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You might even recognize him in the Ed Sheeran video for Sapphire. Kajol remains an active and respected actress, recently seen in the Netflix series Do Patti and The Trial.

These leading men and the leading actresses who matched their charm did more than star in romantic movies. They set the standard for love stories that still resonate, long after the credits rolled.

🍿 Now Streaming: Sleepless in Seattle, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Jawan, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Glass Onion (Netflix), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Amazon Prime), A Man Named Otto (Hulu)