Richa-Neil 'romance' a publicity stunt!

If Neil Nitin Mukesh and feisty Richa Chadha are seeing each other, hen they aren't aware of it!

Expressing surprise at the rumours about their involvement, Richa said: "I don't know where this is coming from. I have shot a film with Neil. We got along well. But then I get along well with all my co-stars. That's it. I haven't even met him in ages. So I am a bit baffled and embarrassed by these rumours."

The two are doing romantic-comedy "Ishqeria" together and according to a source, this a way to generate interest in the project.

Neil more or less confirmed this when he said: "What to say? In my next film, they'll link me with my leading lady again. And then the one after that also. So it's better for me to keep quiet. People need better marketing strategies to promote their film."

Linking the lead pair in a romantic film before the film's release is an old strategy.

It started with Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in "Bobby".

Later couples who barely exchanged a few words off camera like - Kumar Gaurav-Vijeta Pundit in "Love Story", Kamal Haasan-Rati Agnihotri in "Ek Duuje Ke Liye", Salman Khan-Bhagyashree in "Maine Pyar Kiya" and Rahul Roy-Anu Aggarwal in "Aashiqui" - were linked just before the release when in fact they had nothing to do with one another.

So Richa and Neil are in august company.