Is a struggling actress responsible for Rahul's divorce?

Aug 1, 2008 IANS

Mumbai, Aug 1 (IANS) Payal Rohatgi's acting career may not be going great guns but her personal life is on a high. Sources say that her closeness with Rahul Mahajan may have been the reason for the break-up of his marriage.

Rahul, son of the late Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister Pramod Mahajan, formally parted ways from his wife Shweta Friday after a Gurgaon court passed a decree on their mutual divorce petition.

According to sources, Payal who has been denying any link with Rahul off late, recently hosted a party for him at a five-star hotel here. The party, which was a personal affair, was attended by select guests and the media was not invited.

When asked about the party, Payal was not willing to disclose any details.

"It was a personal affair. I would not like to say anything about it," Payal told IANS Friday.

However, one of the invitees at the party said: "Both of them played the perfect hosts and looked like a couple."

Reports say Rahul and Payal have been friends for more than six years.

But their closeness increased ever since Rahul's relations with his wife took an ugly turn.

However, a few common friends now blame Payal for the strained relations between Rahul and his wife.

"I don't want to discuss personal life. It is completely my personal affair and I would not like to comment on it," said Payal, who was seen in films like "Corporate", "36 China Town", "Dhol".

Sources say in recent times, Rahul and Payal have been spotted in various places together and he is even planning to cast her in the lead in the first film under his production company Cine Vision.

There were also reports that Rahul gifted Payal an imported car when her car was completely damaged in an accident.

Rahul married his old time friend Shweta Aug 29, 2006, months after Pramod Mahajan was shot dead by his own brother in his Mumbai home.

Later Rahul hit the headlines when he was hospitalised after an alleged incident of drug abuse. Pramod's secretary Viveik Moitra died of drug overdose.