Emraan, Aaditya fight over Geeta Basra

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Friday, August 04, 2006
Wherever Emraan Hashmi goes, trouble (in the shape of a lissome lass) is bound to follow.

This time, while shooting for Aaditya Datt's Dil Diya Hai in London, both Emraan and Aaditya chased lead actress Geeta Basra around town, trying to get her to succumb to their overtures. But though she maintained cordial relations with both, Geeta didn't bite the bait.

Emraan is getting married to long-time love Parveen in December, while Aaditya is single (having recently broken off with Tanushree Dutta).

Tough cookie

Says a unit member, "During the London schedule, both Aaditya and Emi wanted to spend time with Geeta. They would take her out for dinner and go shopping with her. If Emi heard that Aaditya had a dinner date with her, he would fix up another date with her for the next day and vice versa.

On the sets, too, it would be like who would catch her attention the most. They were like two boys enjoying some guy stuff. Outdoors get lonely, and it was all in good fun."

But Geeta turned out to be one smart cookie. "Geeta is a thorough professional. Usse daal nahi gali. She would be nice but not go beyond a certain limit. Aaditya, being the director, took special pains to project her well and thought he had prior claim, while Emi assumed that all girls love him. But Geeta kept a safe distance."

Cozy threesome

Aaditya Datt says it was all "innocent flirting and harmless fun". He says, "I am single, so why not? But there was no competition with Emraan and me. Till now, we haven't fought over any girl. Geeta is a hardcore filmi, thorough professional and will go places."

But it's obvious that he's smitten, when he says, "Geeta is a very beautiful and intelligent girl. When I saw her at the audition, she caught my attention instantly. Hers is a face you can't forget. I immediately selected her. she won't get lost in a crowd."

Geeta, who is from Portsmith, London, sticks to the "Emi and Aditya are good friends" routine. "It was amazing shooting with both of them. Aaditya and he would play jokes and tease me a lot on the sets. I was their bakra," she says, adding as an afterthought, "Please don't link me up with anybody. I get along very well with Parveen, and Emraan and Aaditya are very good guys. Emraan is getting married this year and Aaditya is very focused on his films."

Kiss and tell

Emraan tries to pass off Geeta as just a buddy. "Boys will be boys," he smiles, but adds, "What candlelight dinners? I am not a romantic. I don't believe in candlelight dinners or dinners on the beach. I don't believe in impressing my girl with gifts or dinners at expensive restaurants."

Emi's idea of romance is a roadside dhaba! "If I wanted to take here out on a date I would take my girl to a dhaba. It can be the weirdest of places and yet turn out to be the most romantic date. It's very necessary to make your woman laugh," he says.

So did he make Geeta laugh? "I am not telling..." grins Emraan.