John-Priya-Bips were gym buddies
Love happened on the treadmill, when the investment-banker caught the hunk's eye. Just that Bips refused to believe the rumours
Vickey.Lalwani @timesgroup.com
Contrary to popular perception that John Abraham met, and proposed marriage to Priya Runchal overnight almost, fact is, the two have known each other since a long time.
Mumbai Mirror has learnt from a common friend of John and Bipasha that the hitherto mystery lady entered John's life way back in December 2010, even if in an infinitesimally small way.
"It all began in December 2010 at a gym in Bandra, where John and Bipasha used to work out together. Initially, Priya would only exchange pleasantries with the couple. However, slowly and surely, she started getting close to John. Bipasha didn't see the chemistry brewing between the two. Or maybe, she chose to ignore it," the friend revealed.
"Actually, Bipasha was so much in love with John that she never paid heed to any rumours about him. All she wanted from him was marriage; settling down and starting a family. She had even stopped being ambitious about her career and had been asking him to marry her for the past three years. However every time, he would say baad mein," our source informed.
Indeed their break up in February 2011 happened primarily because she realised John would never marry her. "Usko thoda shaque zaroor hone laga tha," we were told. But surprisingly enough, Bipasha learnt about the John-Priya romance only after she parted ways with John.
Common friends started telling her that John had a new girl in his life, which made her wonder as to how John could move on so quickly in life. Somehow, her 'friendships' with Shahid Kapoor, Rana Dagubatti and Josh Hartnett happened around the same time. The fact that a couple of them didn't last long is quite another story.
However, the truth is Bipasha hasn't yet got over the fact that Priya is the very same girl who once upon a time struck casual conversations with John and herself.
What upset her even more was that the same John, with whom she was in a relationship for so many years, kept her at bay but was quick to contemplate marriage to a girl he had known for much less time. Shattered as she was, the actress kept on brooding.
Now with speculation rife that John has already married Priya, it's a matter of conjecture whether to believe the rumours or not. However, a friend of John called to say, "John is still a bachelor and Priya an investment banker working in a leading firm in the Bandra-Kurla Complex. She is in her late 20s. Marriage is definitely on the cards and they might marry in August this year. John did meet Priya's close relatives in LA when he went there for a holiday with his parents. Lekin shaadi ab tak nahin hui hai."
John not married
John Abraham hasn't taken the pheras yet. Yesterday, there was major buzz that the actor and girlfriend Priya Runchal had tied the knot while on his recent trip to Los Angeles. However, a source close to the actor confirms he's still a bachelor. The source says, "John did set up a meeting with his to be in-laws at a five-star restaurant where everything from marriage to their future was discussed. But he hasn't got married. He wants to take time and focus on his films and feels that a wedding would only serve as a distraction."
John to make it official!
Families of the actor and his girlfriend Priya Runchal will apparently be making the formal marriage anouncements soon
Aakanksha Naval-Shetye
There's a rather good reason why actor John Abraham has increasingly been making public appearances wh girlfriend Priya Runchal. While the actor himself has not spoken about his relationship wh the investment banker as yet, insiders insist that the couple is ready to take their commment to the next level. Formal announcements of the marriage are in the offing, say sources.
Rubbishing all rumours of the couple already being engaged, a friend close to the star, lets in that though marriage is on the cards for John this year, the two are not engaged as of now. Confirming , a close friend of the actor says that the two will indeed be tying the knot soon. "Contrary to rumours, the two are not engaged, even though both their families have met each other and approve of them. In fact, they will be announcing the engagement and the marriage dates very soon," says the friend.
Dismissing all rumours about their relationship, the friend adds that there is a lot of respect that John gives to his relationships. "Even when he was wh his ex Bipasha Basu, he never hid his relationship and gave all the respect. This time too, 's no different. He is more than happy to have Priya in his life and though he has not been talking about , he's not hiding eher. He just wants to maintain the privacy of their personal life. But when he ties the knot, he will let the world know. The two have been dating for almost eight to nine months now, after meeting through some common friends, much after his spl wh Bipasha. Everyone close to John knows about . The two had h off instantly, and had even bonded over the fact that both are from a financial background — she's an investment banker based out of LA and he's an MBA graduate," explains a family friend.
Talking about Priya, another source reveals that everyone in John's family is very fond of her and she has also been spotted at various occasions on family outings. "His friends like Priya lot. Though she is a very private person herself, she's unfazed by rumours about their relationship," the source says, adding, "John had met Priya's parents on his recent vis to LA and the families have also met and plan to make the marriage announcements sometime early this year."
a_shetye@dnaindia.net
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