Koena Mitra dating Turkish pilot Mett Merral

It is becoming fashionable to introduce your love interest to the media at a public event. Previous instances: Sanjay Dutt brought Maanayata Dutt to the Screen awards two years ago. Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor outed themselves at Manish Malhotra's fashion show. And on Saturday night, Koena Mitra came to an Filmfare award function on the arm of the new man in her life.

She is dating Mett Merral, a Turkish pilot. Says a source close to Koena, "They met a couple of months ago through common friends at a Mumbai show and have been inseparable since. Whenever Mett comes to Mumbai, Koena drops everything to be with him."

Says a friend of the actress, "Koena has found someone special after a long time and she's wary about jumping in too deep. She's being cautious and taking it slow. They're both single and currently in the process of getting to know each other."

Keen guy
Koena brought her new man to the award function as he wanted to see an Indian award function. Though he's been in India many times Mett has never gone to an award ceremony. "He is keen about knowing everything about her world. He's also learning Hindi by watching films. He was here for a day and when Koena heard he was keen, she brought him along."

Koena admits, "Yes, Mett is a very sweet and dear friend. I don't have too many phirang friends. He wanted to come to the awards night with me and after the Oscars, people abroad are more curious to know what happens here. Mett found the show amusing and beautiful with all the naach-gaana though he didn't understand a word of Hindi. We couldn't watch the entire event as I wasn't feeling well, and he had to fly back. Mett dropped me off at home and went to the airport."

When asked if he is the one, she says cautiously, "All I can say right now, is that we are very close friends. Mett and I meet as often as we can whenever he's in Mumbai. He's very charming and good-looking and our friendship is very special to me. It's too early to say anything more."