The two were apparently approached by Sheershak Anand and Shantanu Ray Chibber for a film based on the 3G spectrum scam. The Anand- Chibber duo had done the story and screenplay for Neil's 2009 flick Aa Dekhen Zara in which he starred with Bipasha Basu.

Says a source, "As Neil had worked in their earlier project, they approached him. They were keen to pair Neil and Sonal on screen in their directorial debut.

" Adds the source, "But the couple is still pondering about whether to act in the film together. While Neil may have shown an interest in the project, Sonal is being a bit guarded as it would mean going public about their relationship.

At this stage they do not want to make any commitment." According to sources, "They may not care what people around are talking or that they are being watched but at this stage both don't want to rush into anything.

They share a close bond but both want to keep everything under wraps due to past experiences. They feel signing a film together will give a clear indication that the two are serious about each other".

Recently the two were spotted at a nightspot having a good time. Even though the twosome are living it up and throwing caution to the wind, they are apparently taking their time to take their relationship to the next level.

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The two were apparently approached by Sheershak Anand and Shantanu Ray Chibber for a film based on the 3G spectrum scam. The Anand- Chibber duo had done the story and screenplay for Neil's 2009 flick Aa Dekhen Zara in which he starred with Bipasha Basu.

Says a source, "As Neil had worked in their earlier project, they approached him. They were keen to pair Neil and Sonal on screen in their directorial debut.

" Adds the source, "But the couple is still pondering about whether to act in the film together. While Neil may have shown an interest in the project, Sonal is being a bit guarded as it would mean going public about their relationship.

At this stage they do not want to make any commitment." According to sources, "They may not care what people around are talking or that they are being watched but at this stage both don't want to rush into anything.

They share a close bond but both want to keep everything under wraps due to past experiences. They feel signing a film together will give a clear indication that the two are serious about each other".

Recently the two were spotted at a nightspot having a good time. Even though the twosome are living it up and throwing caution to the wind, they are apparently taking their time to take their relationship to the next level.

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A close friend of Neil chose to underplay it saying, "It would be premature to say Neil is dating Sonal Chauhan. After what he has gone through, it would require Herculean willpower to commit to another relationship.

But yes, their bonding is definitely growing. And they're definitely in a space where love is present.

But Neil won't rush into a commitment so fast. The last relationship has broken his faith.

" Apparently, Neil was in a six-month relationship with a certain actress who endorses soft drinks but that ended on a sour note. The friend explained, "She used and dumped him, befriended his entire family, and used his weakness for a domesticated bahu-type of girlfriend to her advantage.

That's what hurt Neil the most." The actress in question now claims that she hardly knew Neil.

"Neil was totally committed and took her home to his parents. She played the daughter-in-law card until her dad began to interfere in the relationship, not allowing them to even go out for a cup of coffee.

Neil had to meet her at home and in her father's presence. The full extent of her duplicity hit him when at a party, she met him like an acquaintance," said the friend.

Seems the couple broke up after this incident but the actress pleaded her way back into the relationship, courtesy Neil's unassuming father. In the words of Neil's friend, "The actress and her father wanted Neil to move out of his family home and move into his own pad.

In December, he finally called off the relationship." At the time, Neil was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown had it not been for Sonal Chauhan walking into his life.

Sonal and Neil have signed a film titled 3G based on the spectrum scam that will be the directorial debut of Sheershak Anand and Shantanu Ray Chibber . While Neil's friends are sure this may help their relationship grow, Neil, when contacted, simply said, "It's too early to talk about the relationship and the film.

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"I have yet to come across a man as romantic as my dad. I love the way he pampers my mom even today like they are newly wed.

I follow his footsteps," he tweeted (less)

He is super talented," tweeted Neil. The 30-year-old was last seen in Players .

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Neil began preparing for it much in advance. He even discussed the scene in detail with director Susi Ganesan .

He worked out the nuances with the action director, to make it look as realistic as possible." He would be up and about by 4 am everyday and would run seven rounds of the race course and practice the fight sequences till late evening.

He did this for four consecutive days, "He would end up with bruises on his arms, legs and back, but he rehearsed repeatedly till he was satisfied. And all his hardwork paid off because the shot was okayed in one take," adds our source.

Neil confirms, "The chasing scene was an exhaustive fight between the goons and me that involved me to jump over barriers and roll down on the ground filled with mud. The entire sequence was done in one single shot.

It was one of the lengthiest shot I have ever filmed in my career as an actor. It had me sapped completely.

But when I saw it in the monitor, I realised it was all worth the hardwork." Parag Maniar (less)

Aap chai-coffee piyo and he will join you shortly." Pooja couldn't stop smiling.

People generally take measurements for clothing, so she was intrigued to know how a custom moustache will be made for Neil. Neil walked in soon after and explained that the moustache measurement is for his next film David, directed by Bejoy Nambiar.

With a complete retro-gangster look, Neil is required to sport a hefty moustache. Looking at Pooja's perturbed face, he explains further, "They measure it with an inch-tape from the centre point under your nose and stretch it on either side for the desired length.

Then a fine net base is taken and each hair is intricately woven into it, making it as real as possible." Having watched all of Neil's films since Johnny Gaddaar (2007), she asks him why he chose to debut with a negative role when most actors prefer to start with a romantic role.

Neil says, "I come from the lineage of singers and wanted to be an actor. So everybody used to say 'achha dikhta hai to actor banega'.

I didn't want that question mark in people's head. I wanted to make an impact with my first film.

In fact, I was offered two films simultaneously at that time. They included Jaane tu.

..

Ya Jaane Na and Johnny Gaddaar. I asked my mom to narrate the scripts to me.

I was on a flight to Delhi when she read out Johnny Gaddaar to me. By the time the flight landed, I decided that I will go for the latter.

" Pooja agreeably nods. Neil still had an uphill task of convincing director Sriram Raghavan that he is the right Johnny.

It took him over six months to do it. "I didn't have a car then," says Neil.

"I travelled by train or bus. One day it was raining and I had borrowed my father's car.

As luck would have it, it had a puncture. With some help I pushed it to a petrol pump.

I arrived 20 minutes late on the sets. Sriram told me, 'Please leave, you are not part of this.

' Today, I respect him for doing that. If a shot is called at seven am, I will be there at 6.

30." While Johnny Gaddaar remains Pooja's favourite of the lot, she asks him which has been his toughest role so far.

Neil says, "It was the character Parag Dixit for Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail. We are like free birds and do not identify with the world behind bars.

Touchwood, we don't know that life. To delve into the psyche of that character was very difficult.

It was emotionally taxing and it took me almost a month to get out of it after the film." Since Pooja is studying English Literature, she enquires if Neil has ever been inspired by a character from a book and would like to play the same on screen.

"Oh! I would love to play comic characters. I was a big fan of He-Man.

It has an iconic soundtrack. 'By the power of grey skull' still rings in my mind," he says.

She asks, "And what about Archie comics?" He says, "Oh I love Acrchie too. He is such a lucky guy.

Hehe." Pooja says, "So who would you like your Betty and Veronica to be?" Neil says.

"I am a one-woman guy. When that happens, I will tell you for sure.

But in the film Priyanka (Chopra) will make for a good Betty and Katrina (Kaif) would make for a good Veronica." Pooja quips, "How cool would that be, Archie starring Neil, Priyanka and Katrina.

" She learns that Neil is also a photographer, writer and singer and has sung songs for Shortcut Romeo. While leaving, Neil plants a peck on Pooja's cheek and she blushes.

"I wasn't quite expecting it," she says smiling (less)

Apparently, the love birds have been spending a lot of time together. In fact, a source close to Sonal revealed, "This date was of course preplanned.

Neil and Sonal were in the restaurant for nearly two hours. They are beginning to know each other very well and enjoy each other's company.

" Another source close to Neil told Mirror, "They might even be cast opposite each other in a film to be produced by Eros International." While we tried repeatedly to get in touch with the twosome, they were rather coy about it and remained unavailable (less)

"I have an announcement to make! I have been confirmed for Bejoy Nambiar's next film currently titled, David, acting opposite Neil Nitin Mukesh . I am crazy excited about this project.

:)," (sic) she posted (less)

In fact, the scenes between her and Neil (Nitin Mukesh) show Ameesha in a different light altogether - far from the sweet sugary image portrayed till date." Playing the villainous character has not been easy for Ameesha.

She has taken it up as a challenge. And though sapping, Ameesha is kicked about it more so because it is in complete contrast to what she is in real life.

Shortcut Romeo is a cutting edge thriller where the actors are all set to outdo each other. "The film is like a game of chess.

..

cut-throat and ruthless," added the source. When contacted Ameesha said, "It was the negative shade that attracted me to do the role and that is why I instantly said yes to the film.

" Interestingly, it is after over a decade that Ameesha will be seen playing a grey character. The actress had played a negative role in Humraaz (less)