Candid to coy: What's cooking, Deepika and Ranveer?

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are undoubtedly Bollywood's numero uno couple. They look perfect together, and they sound totally in love. Only, recently, they have been choosing not to sound so much in love. Naturally, we wonder why.

Here's the story. At a special screening of Irrfan Khan's first production Madaari, DeepVeer struck a perfect pose in colour-coordinated gear " grey and beige for Deepika and black and grey for Ranveer " looking classically Euro casual chic. But when it came to questions about their recent engagement rumours, they weren't quite casual.

Deepika seemed put off when she abruptly responded with an "okay, thanks" and walked off, while Ranveer told a media person, "Let's respect the kind of film we are here for, and not ask such banal questions."

Then he proceeded to see his ladylove off, earning himself a firm kiss on his cheek.

For those present at the event, the message was crystal clear " 'we are together, it's our life, but steer clear.'

Their change in behaviour has been especially noticeable since they got back from their respective shooting stints overseas. Deepika was occupied with her Hollywood debut, the XXX sequel. Ranveer, meanwhile, was tangoing and training hard for Aditya Chopra's under-wraps Befikre in Paris. Deepika visitited her beau in Paris, but that trip was kept under wraps, just like Ranveer's film.

Before their return to India, reports of them being engaged made headlines. So far, both actors maintain a terse "no comments" stand on the matter. Asked about it at the airport, Ranveer refused to answer. At her first major public appearance post her return at Delhi's India Couture Week, Deepika said, "I think this is the right opportunity for me to clarify. There is no such plan anytime soon. I am not pregnant, I am not engaged, I am not married. I am not planning to get married anytime soon".

Yet, the question keeps popping up, much to their displeasure. They were once the refreshingly candid couple, whose PDA was marked, with Ranveer as the eager boyfriend complimenting her and fawning over her at each turn and DP always being the shy respondent. So why are they acting all coy now?

When we dug around, folks close to both stars hinted that they are planning to stay firmly focused on their careers, and an engagement or marriage rumour puts a spanner in that plan. Additionally, both are also going to be cast in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's forthcoming magnum opus Padmavati. The film requires intense preparations and concentration.

We get the career bit completely, and agree with it too. But we can't help but wonder: Is this a new, mature phase where gushing and PDA is off the table? Or are they tired of the constant scrutiny? Either ways, we love to see them together and hope all's well in paradise.