Punit Malhotra, the debutant director of Karan Johar’s production I Hate Luv Storys, is not flustered by the constant rumours linking him with his leading lady Sonam Kapoor and the critics’ response to the film. “We’re not over-confident; it’s just that we’re trying to blind ourselves from the reaction,” he says.

Malhotra adds, “Karan has not paid me. He’s put all the money into the film,” he jokes, pointing to his torn jeans.

Not for love stories Was it difficult for Johar’s assistant and designer Manish Malhotra’s nephew to get the project going? “Karan liked the screenplay so much that within a week Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor had been brought on board as the lead pair and the film was set rolling,” states Malhotra. The first-time director doesn’t believe in love stories but confesses to have fallen in love several times over.

“The first two-three months of the relationship are great, but after that, reality kicks in and that’s dangerous,” cautions Malhotra, laughing off rumours of his link-up with Kapoor. Rumours galore.