Neil brings girlfriend out in the open

There's no pressure for marriage, he says

Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has kept mum about his girlfriend Priyanka Bhatia so far, showed up with her for the first time at the premiere of his critically acclaimed film "Jail". He says she is an integral part of his family and that they enjoy a good comfort level.

"My parents and her parents not only know and like each other, we also visit each other's homes constantly. More than lovers, we're friends first," Neil told IANS.

"There's a comfort level in our interaction that makes us very relaxed with one another. We don't have to hide anything. We meet openly and are very proud of one another. There's no pressure for marriage on either side. When it happens, it happens. The marital status would hardly alter anything between us," he added.

Priyanka has done a course in fashion design and Neil is open to the idea of her designing his clothes for his films.

"I'd love that. But it should happen on its own. Neither Priyanka nor I want to pressurise anyone to use her skills. But if it happens, I'd be very happy to be dressed up by her," he said.

Talking about his girlfriend's reaction to "Jail", he said: "Priyanka and my mom were hysterical with grief. They weren't looking at just a character being put through a traumatic time. To them it was someone who they both love and he was in pain in front of their eyes."

Talking more about work, Neil admits that there is healthy rivalry between him and Ranbir Kapoor.

"Ranbir and I are of course competitors. But there's no negative rivalry between us. Our respective fathers (Nitin Mukesh and Rishi Kapoor) would kill us if we behaved like two brats fighting for the same roles," said Neil.

"I'm proud that Ranbir's and my grandfather (Raj Kapoor and Mukesh) were very close friends. My father and Ranbir's father adore each other. Ranbir is like my younger brother," he added

Neil's "Jail" and Ranbir's "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" released on the same day.

"I'd want Ranbir's film to do as well as mine," Neil says. "Fortunately, 'Jail' and 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' look like north and south poles."

Indo-Asian News Service