The X factor- Anuj SAxena

Just how do you deal with an ex-flame? From drink flinging to air kissing, find effective 'solutions' here.

All good things come to an end. As do all bad things. But whichever way you view a relationship on the rocks, the cardinal rule is - in the ultimate analysis, it's nobody's fault. While different people react differently when a relationship ends, if the disillusionment is mutual, the parting can even retain a semblance of amicability. The trouble starts when one partner feels wronged or cheated and refuses to let go.

Handling strong post-break-up emotions isn't easy, but it's possible. "It's best to move on because you can't force anyone to love you. It's much better to just be upfront about it and part ways," says TV actor Kulraj Randhawa.

Tears for fears: For those guys who are looking to 'get back' with their ex girlfriend, the only worthwhile strategy is to pretend you're okay with her decision to leave and start dating other people — all the while making sure she gets to know about it. If that doesn't work, most majnus are known to get drunk and bang their car into hers or make a zillion calls to her present boyfriend to harass the daylights out of him (Sallu - Vivek). Or do something equally stupid that lands them in hospital or jail.

Moreover, trying to 'get her back' sends out vibes of desperation and being needy — which completely short circuits the I-don't-give-a-sh** front. Grit your teeth, be a man and move on.

Work it out: It's always a double-edged sword to date someone in your own profession. When Rajiv Sahu (name changed), a senior television journalist, was selected to jointly head a new Hindi news channel he discovered that the other person was none other than his ex-wife's new husband. They did try to co-exist, but to cut a long story short, one of them eventually put in his papers. In the insulated world of celebhood, bumping into an ex-flame — or worse, their current partner - is often unavoidable.

Says TV actor Anuj Saxena, "Frankly, in films and television, relationships are rampant. Most actors have to deal with broken relationships, but you just have to be sensible about it. And being actors, keeping things under control is perhaps that much easier."

Take the middle path: Ultimately it's a matter of choice — either be a sport about it like Dino Morea was — he starred in the film 'Chehra' with former flame Bipasha Basu though she was going steady with John Abraham by then — or splash some wine on your husband's ex-wife ala Raveena Tandon.

That's why it was a reassuring sight to see Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan share the stage without any apparent rancour during a recent show by jewellery designer Farah Khan.

But action star Akshay Kumar, who had a slew of affairs before he married Twinkle Khanna, still seems ill at ease over bumping into any of his ex-girlfriend. "I'll just say a polite hello and move on," he's been quoted as saying. In contrast, Shilpa Shetty has completely healed her past. "Why should it just be a polite hello? It would be a hearty hello from my side. I have nothing against Akshay Kumar. We have done quite a few shows together. There is no ill-feeling from my side — life's too short to hold any grudges." Atta girl!