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Kapoor poser
WHILE confusion reigns over the status of the Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapoor relationship, the actress and the "third party", actor Saif Ali Khan, were seen in public together. Just over a week ago, the two dined out at a popular Chinese restaurant in the Mumbai suburbs. They walked in together to the VIP lounge, dressed in casual tees and jeans. They were later joined by friends and actors Dino Morea and Amrita Arora. According to onlookers, Kareena, 27, and Saif, 37, appeared relaxed and sat close to each other. The actor also kept hugging her throughout the evening. After dinner, they left together. One of the patrons said they were behaving like a couple. "They were lost in some discussion and were oblivious to their surroundings and other guests." Said a restaurant worker: "Kareena seemed to be distressed and Saif was consoling and hugging her. Their friends took care to give them some space." Kareena and Saif, a divorcee, are getting on well on the set of Tashan, which started filming in India in June. Despite frenzied speculation over Kareena's break-up with the 26-year-old Shahid, Kareena is maintaining a stoic silence while Shahid is away filming in Toronto, Canada. A source close to Kareena said: "Kareena and Saif are extremely fond of each other and are spending a lot of time together. She has also repeatedly talked about Saif's good nature." Adding to the puzzle is talk that the alleged split is a publicity gimmick to boost the soon-to-be-released love story Jab We Met (When We Met) starring Kareena and Shahid. They play a couple brought together by a chance encounter on a train. The film directed by Imtiaz Ali is the fourth that the duo have acted in together. The others – Fida (2004), 36 Chinatown and Chup Chup Ke, both released last year – were box-office duds. The lovers of three years had been unable to transfer the real-life chemistry they enjoyed onto the screen. Hopes are high that Jab We Met would reverse the trend for the two. Talk of their reported break-up being a publicity ploy is fuelled by the fact that Kareena has only recently returned to active duty after staying in the background for over a year while Shahid desperately needs a hit to his name. As if things are not confusing enough, one of Shahid's closest aides in Bollywood, Ahmed Khan, commented: "Shahid and Bebo (Kareena's nickname) are very much together. They are away from each other working on individual projects. It seems Shahid has asked Kareena and his family not to speak to the media at this point. He will address the issue when he returns from Toronto." As soon as news of their purported split hit the headlines, Kareena was said to have sent messages to her friends, calling it complete hogwash.When tracked down by reporters, Shahid's mother Neelima Aziz was nonchalant. "I have been in touch with Shahid, but we haven't discussed it. It's too personal a matter and he's mature enough to handle his life and love affair. I don't want to be dragged into any controversies, though I must say it is rather unfortunate especially when his new film is about to hit the screen. He has worked very hard on it. I hope the film works on its own merit," said the mum.
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