Payal: Rahul and I

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Payal Rohatgi is in Kolkata for a show. Meanwhile, the Mumbai's party circuit is talking about her connections with Rahul Mahajan. Buzz is that the actress and the late politician Pramod Mahajan's son were close.

Rahul is admitted in Delhi's Apollo Hospital after an alleged drug overdose. Here Payal talks about how she will always remember Rahul as a warm and friendly guy, who helped her find an apartment in the city. Read on...

When did you meet Rahul?

I was introduced to Rahul almost four years ago, before I entered films and was modeling then. I was introduced to him at a party by common friends Aashish Chowdhry and his wife, Samita.

He was a part of a big group of friends. We all used to hang out together. After I got into films, I lost touch with him. Life changes and we lose friendships, but I will always remember Rahul as a very nice and warm guy who went out of his way to make his friends comfortable.

Buzz is you dated him.
No, I never dated him.

Tell us about Rahul.
He is a very emotional guy - a quality that is rare in men. He cares about his friends a lot and leaves no stone unturned to see that they are well looked after. Rahul was a good host who made sure that everybody had a good time.

Did he ever help you?
Oh yes, he did! I was looking out for a flat and Rahul advised me to look around Bandra. He said it was a good place to stay. He found me a good broker and even saved me the brokerage money of two months. I am very grateful to him. He was very helpful about the whole thing.

Did you ever see him doing drugs?
No. Except the occasional drink or two, which we have at parties, I have never seen Rahul take drugs. Since I never met him beyond the social circuit I never got to know him that closely.

All Rahul's friends are denying their friendship with him. Comment.
I used to know Rahul well, so why lie about it? I am being true to my conscience. Rahul is a very nice guy. I don't know how things spinned out of control. But I am sure he will come out of it. It's really very sad to see the way people are talking about Rahul today, just because he's going through a difficult situation.

Have you indulged in drugs?
No. I believe in good health. I used to smoke, it was the only vice I had but had to give it up when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in my blood levels.