'I still love Kelly,' says Lara
Speaking for the first time since her break-up with actor-model Kelly Dorji. For eight years the couple kept Bollywood guessing about the status of their relationship. Then, just when it seemed they were most comfortable together, came the break-up.
"Everyone is trying to seek themselves and find alignment with their thoughts. Why is divorce rate so high across the world? It's a subtle movement gripping the universe. And India isn't far behind.
The concept of marriage in our country is changing, and how," says Lara when asked about Kelly. "I don't have a bad or sad story to tell the world. There's no hurt, no guilt involved. Kelly and I have not outgrown each other. I believe relationships remain, but circumstances change."
The former Miss Universe says there was no particular cause for their break-up. "Kelly is one of the most wonderful human beings I know. I am not going to wish him luck and all that jazz. That's rubbish as he is part of my life. I still love him, but I am single, we are not in an exclusive relationship," she explains. The couple is still in touch with each others' families. But talk about a reunion, and Lara responds, "Everyone wishes this. But I don't know... Inshallah."
What happened to her marriage plans? Lara laughs, "When I met Kelly, marriage was the last thing on mind, and he was as nervous as I was. But even today, I haven't thought about marriage. I don't believe that if you love somebody you have to possess him, live with him or marry him." Did her recent success in Bollywood come in the way of love? "
No," she replies. "I knew Kelly before I won any titles. I was a starving model and he used to pay my bills. Later things got reversed when he wasn't working. The question of success never came between us. Kelly and I never felt insecure. In any relationship, only if both partners bring in emotional, financial commitment and honesty in equal measure, can there be harmony. The idea of men earning and women waiting at home for them, is over."
If her personal life is in the doldrums, then Lara's professional life is looking up. She is doing a reality TV show called Mission Ustaad in which she represents a UN chair on the jury as the show is tied up with UN's developmental goals.
"After Jhoom Barabar, things have been looking up for me," admits Lara. "People believe this is my second coming, but I would say I have only just arrived. When I started my career with Andaaz, I was groping in the dark to find a place. Today I am glad I have my own place," she says, adding, "Filmmakers believe I am good at comedy. I am happy entertaining people. After Sridevi, Bollywood has not had any actress really good at comedy." But her big dream is to do roles that will shape her into a good actress. "I would rather be known as an actress than a star," she reveals. < =text/> var RN = new String (Math.random()); var RNS = RN.substring (2,11); var b2 = '< src=\"http://adstil.indiatimes.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.timesofindia.com/Stories/index./1'+RNS+'@Right3?\" WIDTH=255 HEIGHT=250 marginwidth=0 align="left" marginheight=0 =1 =0 border=0 scrolling=no bordercolor=\"#000000\"> </>'; if (doweshowbellyad==1) be llyad.innerHTML = b2;
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