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.

Reportedly Sonam Kapoor is in love! Buzz is that she is smitten by Punit Malhotra, the director of her upcoming film – I Hate Luv Stories. What irony!

There’s a strong buzz and everyone on the sets of the film seems to be aware of the budding romance between the actress and the director.

A website quotes a source as saying, “Punit was constantly taking Sonam’s photos and telling her how gorgeous she looked. Whenever they weren’t shooting, the two would go out and try new places for dinner. In fact, Sonam even told her sister Rhea about Punit.”

Both Sonam and Punit were single previously and they hit it off really well during their New Zealand schedule. Ever since then the lovebirds have become inseparable.