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| Puru and his girlfriend, Koraljka |
Puru, son of the late actor, Raaj Kumar, is on a high.
Professionally, because he has just signed J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan, and secondly, because his personal life is rock solid with his Croatian girlfriend of over two years — Koraljka, as a part of his life. In an exclusive chat with hitList, they talk about their personal and professional lives.
Pehla nasha
We met the couple at their Juhu residence, Whispering Windows. Puru reveals, "I met Kora for the first time in the lobby of J W Marriott Hotel about two-and-half years ago, through common friends. It was not love at first sight. But we kept bumping into each other, and one day I asked her out for coffee. One thing led to another, and within a few days, we realised that we were in love."
Life took a turn for Koraljka. She was here on a modelling assignment, and might have returned to her homeland long ago, if she hadn't met Puru. "I went back and told my parents that I had found a guy whom I love. They were cool. I returned back to stay with him."
| Meet the parents
Puru has been to Croatia four times and has met Koraljka's friends and relatives. "Kora's (as he fondly calls her; he still can't pronounce Koraljka!) parents are really sweet," he says, "We get along very well. When I first met her dad, he said that I had belied his expectations. He was under the impression that all Indian men are short and fat. We burst out laughing.
Then, I spent some time with him at a coffee shop. I knew just two words of Croatian and he knew just four words of English. We communicated through hand gestures and by putting pen on paper. But at the end of it, we had developed a strong bond." New year with family
Says Puru, "My mom had a few reservations earlier, but it all settled down," he adds. Kora has been well accepted by Puru's relatives.
The couple spent the Christmas and New Year in Jaipur where Puru was shooting for J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan. "Kora and my mom flew down from Mumbai. My cousins joined in from Delhi. We had a great family get-together."
The couple communicates in English as Puru has not picked up Croatian, and Kora cannot speak Hindi. Cuddling up to him, she says, "I see Hindi films with him and estimate the story, but I don't understand the dialogues. As for his films, I remember seeing only Bal Brahmachari (Puru's debut film) and LoC." Haven't decided on marriage
What about marriage? "We love each other's company and are extremely comfy with each other. We have crossed all the ifs and buts in our relationship. Logically, the next step is marriage. But we haven't decided when we'll marry. It could even be tomorrow morning," Puru offers.
What kind of marriage would they have? Puru reveals, "My brother married in Hindu style. My cousin Keith had a church wedding. I think I'll have both." |
| Business partners as well
With Kora, Puru Raaj Kumar has started a modelling agency, Kava Models, and an event-cum-celebrity management firm, Kristal Image.
Say Puru and Kora, "Our modelling agency represents international talent - arranging international models for Indian ads.
Earlier, if someone wanted a foreigner for an ad, they would go to Colaba Causeway, the Osho ashram in Pune, or to Goa. Today, we have a very organised structure for that.
We started this about a year back. We have partners overseas on a contractual basis. Depending upon the market here, we invite the model on a business visa and represent them — getting them ads, ramp shows and even movies. Czechoslovakian Hannah, who acted in Ek Ajnabee, is from our stable."
Puru is planning to produce films soon, and is set to bounce back as an actor. Having pocketed J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan, where he plays a Nawab, Puru says, "I am also doing a film for Rahul Agarwal, which, as far as I know, will also star Anil Kapoor, Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra. Also, I am doing Pawan Kaul and Sanjay Khanna's next."
Kora, who has modelled for Seasons, recently shot ads for Videocon and Nice Prickly Heat Powder. | |
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