Riteish on how people thought he is GAY !

Q: You've been so guarded about your personal life. How did you all manage that?
A: Riteish: We just lied (laughs). Throughout our relationship we always thought that we would keep things private because everything in the industry was all open out there. We didn't come from a film background so we didn't know how to handle all the media attention. And we kept it that way. Whenever people asked, we said we are just friends.

Genelia: But there's still a certain line that we draw. There are things we don't talk about. Like we were just talking, we had a great time with the media at our wedding. There was some respect. I got a shock when we came out to give photo ops for the reception, people were cheering for us. Yes, there was something happy about it. Something positive.

Q: Genelia, how were you like growing up — really bubbly or wild-n-whacky?
G: I started working at the age of 15. And honestly, this (films) is the place where I get to be more college than when I was in one really. I used to run back to give my exams. So films make me live the part of college that I really missed out. Though in school I was like all over, very active, really bubbly. College was working and managing.

R: I was dating a girl who was in college.

Q: You've been dating since then! So what, are you each other's first love?
G: Yes!
R: Almost (laughing sheepishly). See, we've been seeing each other for 10 years. Probably we were different in many ways, but similar in more ways than different. And in last 10 years, we've just grown together to be similar people in terms of thinking. If I'm doing something, I know what her reaction will be. It's good to be in a space like that. That is also the strength in the relationship.

Q: What are your star signs?
G: I'm a Leo, he's a Sagittarius. Why?

Q: Very compatible! Most actors say they don't want to marry another actor. How difficult was it marrying one?
R: It's just 15 days. Been very easy.
G: It was easy dating one!

Q: Most couples want to take a break after wedding, but you guys are all over the place...
G: We didn't have a choice.
R: Yes, I'd love to have a break right now, to chill out. But right now we are promoting the film and we are together. If probably she was the only one, or I was the only one promoting it, it would have affected us because I'd be left alone or vice versa. The fact that we are spending time together while we are travelling helps… we do understand the commitment that goes to the film.
G: Also, Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya is a film that's taken us eight years to sign together. So it is special.
R: True. We were offered quite a few films together but they were like multi-starrers, or not much screen space. We thought why dilute the beauty of our first film together? And if this one wouldn't have happened, we wouldn't have worked together.

Q: How did you handle link ups before marriage?
G: See, it was very frivolous. And it died eventually. There was nothing that grew on because they were just rumours. You're talking to your co-star and the person present there will create a story. Two people in the film industry are not treated with the same equation that you'd have in an office.
R: Most important for us was to understand each other. And once you do, everything else doesn't matter. For example, there were so many articles written about my sexuality. And I have been asked about it in interviews too, but what can you do? And it was like, 'Oh you're not seeing anyone — which I obviously was lying about — so you're gay (laughs). At first it used to bother me. The first time I was asked this was by a girl who had come to interview me for a magazine. I was in a state of shock. Okay, 'Are you gay?' she asked me. And I was like… what do I say? So I say no I am not. So the headline of the article was, 'No, I'm not gay.' And next time I go out, I was hounded that 'Magazine mein humne aisa padha hai... aapko kya kehna hai.' So, you know, it took me like a year to get over it. Then, me, Sajid (Khan) and other friends, we just joked about it and decided to not bother.

Q: (To Genelia) How did you take that?
G: (Laughs) I was very cool about all this. I think it's very silly. Like I know him, I know he's not gay!
R: She was like... should I give a statement saying you are not gay... (laughs)

Q: Do you have to be extra careful because of your political background?
R: I try to take care of whatever I say. I am on Twitter now. Because eventually, if you come from a political background it certainly comes back to you, and because I'm an actor, what I say will be highlighted more. So my tweets are very general, the only comment I made about elections was with regard to my brother, who won the Zilla Parishad elections. And that was the only Zilla Parishad with the highest number of voters for Congress. Otherwise I never tweet anything political.