Deepika and Sid Mallya an item

It began in April, when Deepika was spotted in Sidhartha's VIP box during the IPL matches when his team was playing. She was like an additional brand ambassador despite the presence of Katrina Kaif. But professional arrangements apart, there was a personal attraction brewing too. Only Deepika appeared to be taking her time to commit. The 24-year-old actress, still smarting from her break up with Ranbir Kapoor, wasn't keen to jump into another relationship.

But despite efforts by common friends to patch them up, Deepika and Ranbir never got together again. And all through her month-long Break Ke Baad schedule in June, the actress is said to have done some serious thinking. An insider said, "Deepika flew to London after her Mauritius schedule for the F1 races and that is the time when Sidhartha joined her there. And after that, these two have been a couple."

Back in Mumbai, Deepika has made a couple of appearances with him giving out clear signals that she's now in a good place emotionally. Her close friends are happy for her. As one of them put in, "For the first time in a year, Deepika's smile has reached her eyes."

Incidentally, her new friendship has two other Bollywood beauties eating their hearts out. For Sidhartha is not only young and good-looking, but also the heir to an empire. And he is not averse to being seen openly with Deepika. Unlike their own relationships with their actor-dates that continue to be cloak and dagger affairs.