Does Rani M have a voracious appetite for married men?

Govinda with Rani Mukerji and her mother Krishna (left)Actor-turned-Congress MP Govinda and actress Rani Mukerji are living together in her Versova flat.

They began staying there a couple of months ago. The decision is the culmination of a four-year-long love affair between the two.

Govindas wife Sunita allegedly packed her bags and moved out of their Juhu bungalow Jal Darshan with their two children last year.

When contacted, Govinda did not deny his relationship with Rani but laughingly rebuffed details with a Keep guessing He, however, rubbished reports that Sunita had left home. Sunita is in Vaishnodevi and could not be contacted.

Govinda and Ranis love story began during the shooting of Hadh Kardi Aapne, four years ago. According to sources, it was love at first sight.

Gregarious and fun-loving, they had such a blast shooting in the US that it was even rumoured that theyd got married at a temple there. There was just one snag to the relationship Govinda was married with two children, Narmada and Yashvardhan.

It was only a year later that Sunita learnt of the affair. Close friends of the couple say she was angry and hurt and consequently, the couple fought constantly. Adds a source, Sunita even called Rani and barked at her over the phone. Confessed a hurt Rani to her close friends, I wouldve never behaved like that.

The extra-marital relationship started affecting Govindas children, said friends of the couple. A teacher at Jamnabai Narsee, Narmadas school, had even called to inform her parents that the girl was very disturbed with the situation at home.

The relationship between husband and wife became so strained that at one point, Govinda stopped eating food served by his wife. When quizzed about it, he told a friend, If I did that, surely I mustve had a reason. But Govinda was relentless in his pursuit of Rani and in fact wanted to now get married to her.

But there were still three factors that stopped him from going ahead with the decision his two children, his conservative upbringing and his three houses in the city (all in Sunitas name).

The first two factors won and Govinda stayed on with Sunita for the time being.

While Rani and Govinda had never admitted to their relationship, they had now officially broken up. Sunita also gave him an ultimatum: No more films with Rani. This was around 2002.

The truth, however, was more interesting. Rani told a friend at the time, We had never broken up. We maintained a faade because of his wife.

Their affair and their clandestine meetings continued, say friends, at Ranis fifth-floor flat in Shakti Apartments, Versova.

The actress stays alone, while her family lives on the floor below.

But now, say friends, the couple is tired of denying their relationship.

Sunita is supposed to have shifted to Govindas other Juhu bungalow a year ago.

People have been told that the couples former residence, Jal Darshan, also at Juhu, is being turned into an office, hence the move.

As further proof of the rift between the couple, Sunita was neither present during Govindas election campaign nor after his victory.

Meanwhile, Ranis mother Krishna Mukerji who is in the US denied the link-up. Its all untrue, she said.

We have been here [in the States] for over a month and Rani is here with us and not with Govinda.

Rani is in the US as part of Temptation 2004, a musical world tour with actor Shah Rukh Khan.

Govinda in love

At the Each One Reach One benefit concert at the MMRDA grounds, Bandra-Kurla Complex, held by Sanjay Dutt and Rhea Pillai early this year, the normally unflappable Govinda got into a fight with Shekhar Suman backstage after the concert got over.

Suman and Sajid Khan had staged a skit based around a swayamvara, with Rani asking men to propose to her.

How could Shekhar perform such a skit? He knows I am dating Rani and am serious about her, he told close friends after the fight. He was also upset that Suman had compared Rani to a ripe pomegranate, waiting to burst.

When people told Govinda about Ranis link-ups with other actors, he said dismissively, These are just rumours. Rani says they are not true and I believe her. It is however reported that at one time, a jealous Govinda even had her followed.

At a party held in April this year to launch Ranis brothers TV serial, Prratima, where Rani played host, Govinda came (minus wife) an hour late and stayed on to wish the family.

The actor showered her with gifts from a diamond necklace to a Mercedes car and a flat.

He learnt Bengali and practiced it with vehemence.