Deepika Padukone switches boyfriends

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Friends of actress Deepika Padukone insist they are together again, but she maintains that her current love is her new Bandra house (like, duh?) Deepika Padukone, who makes her debut in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om, is becoming famous for her off-screen liaisons even before the release of her first film.

Says a source from the industry, "Deepika broke up with long-standing boyfriend Nihar Pandya a few months ago and immediately started dating Ranbir Kapoor (Rishi and Neetu Kapoor's son). However, that relationship was fraught with fights and arguments, sometimes in public (there were reports of Nihar and Ranbir coming to blows in Bandra), and things took a drastic turn. Now, Deepika and Nihar are back together."

Heartbroken

However, the real reason Ranbir and Deepika have broken up is quite different. "Everything was fine till Deepika gave an interview talking about her 'close friendship' with Ranbir. Needless to say, Rishi and Neetu were upset as they don't want any verbal announcements of their son's relationships at this stage of his career. They have always been a discreet family and did not appreciate Deepika crossing the line.

Though they have been non-interfering parents, they put their foot down on the affair and Ranbir had to break it off," adds the source. A close friend of Nihar and Deepika says, "After the break up, Deepika was heartbroken. Nihar and she have been together for a long time, so when he heard the news, Nihar was immediately back at her side. Now, they are very much together."

Flying solo

Deepika, however, chooses to maintain a diplomatic stance when we ask her about the status quo with Nihar. "As I have mentioned earlier, Nihar and I are good friends and we continue to be so. As for Ranbir, he is part of my friend circle so there is no question of a break-up," she says.

Deepika insists that she is currently single. "The only love of my life right now is my new house and I am very happy doing it up. It's in Bandra and I got it three weeks ago."