Salman and Katrina keep all guessing on break-up

HAVE Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif really broken up this time? The buzz has been gathering ground over the past few days, though both the Bollywood stars are not willing to confirm.

Salman continues to be as vague as ever about his relationship with Katrina.

" Did we ever say that we were a couple? I have never said that she ( Katrina) is my girlfriend. We were friends for everybody then and we are friends even now. We kept it at that and I maintain that position even now," Salman said while refusing to come clear on the latest breakup rumours.

Katrina's reply on break- up queries has been diplomatic. She has neither confirmed nor denied the reports. " I don't think any of us know the future. I have learnt from my experience that you really cannot make plans. God has made his own plans for you," she said.

Industry insiders, meanwhile, are floating various reasons for a possible break- up at this point. Some cite Katrina's of-late closeness to Ranbir Kapoor. Others insist Katrina feels alienated because of Salman's reported unwillingness to get married. A section of the industry feels Katrina, now a superstar in her own right, doesn't need Salman anymore to push her career.

Still others have dubbed it as a mere publicity stunt. " In Bollywood, ninety per cent gossip about the personal lives of stars are generated by the stars themselves, who then go on to deny such reports and blame the media for irresponsible reporting," says an industry insider, not wishing to be named.

Come to think of it, reports of a rift between the couple seem to do the rounds every time he or she has a big film coming up. This time too, Salman's next release Dabangg is round the corner, slated to open on September 10. " A Salman- Katrina breakup rumour did the rounds before the release of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti , too. Similarly, around the time Veer opened, reports were rife that he was getting too close to the film's debutant heroine Zarine Khan," an industry insider says.

In fact, Salman went on to state: " For a long time, we both will keep you guys ( the media) confused ( about the break- up)." The actor also insisted that Katrina still turns to him for professional advice. That, however, is not wholly true. Katrina is known to fly off to outdoor shoots without even informing Salman.

" Even on the personal front, Katrina chose to go to London to celebrate her birthday this year with her family rather than be with Salman in Mumbai. Maybe, things are not all fine. Or perhaps, Salman has accepted being game to such adjustments," says a source.

A big reason why these reports have been doing the rounds is also because of Ranbir Kapoor's entry. It all started with the buzz that Katrina got quite cosy with Ranbir on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and later Raajneeti . Apparently, Salman was quite upset about it. And recently, when Ranbir was in Delhi to endorse an automobile brand, Katrina was in town, too. They are rumoured to have met and spent long hours together in the Capital.

Tabloids in the recent past have also suggested that last year Katrina flew off to the US to be with Ranbir, where he was shooting for his upcoming film Anjaana Anjaani . It was reported that after his return, Ranbir dropped in often at her home. Having delivered back- toback hits with Ranbir by way of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti, Katrina wouldn't quite mind being linked to the rising superstar at this stage.

Still others have dubbed it as a mere publicity stunt. " In Bollywood, ninety per cent gossip about the personal lives of stars are generated by the stars themselves, who then go on to deny such reports and blame the media for irresponsible reporting," says an industry insider, not wishing to be named.

Come to think of it, reports of a rift between the couple seem to do the rounds every time he or she has a big film coming up. This time too, Salman's next release Dabangg is round the corner, slated to open on September 10. " A Salman- Katrina breakup rumour did the rounds before the release of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti , too. Similarly, around the time Veer opened, reports were rife that he was getting too close to the film's debutant heroine Zarine Khan," an industry insider says.

well there were rumors that time too but not as many as this time