What rumours say of Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur's marriage

Ring the bells

Wedding rumours continue to swirl around Salman Khan and his Romania girlfriend Iulia Vantur. After weeks of speculations, the couple's first appearance together at Preity Zinta-Gene Goodenough's wedding reception only strengthened the chatter. Apparently, at the reception last week, Salman took the time to introduce Iulia to everyone and the couple was inseparable through the night.

The couple has been together for almost three years now. They first met when Salman travelled to Bucharest to recce for Jai Ho in 2013.

Though sparks flew immediately, the couple got together only when Salman returned to the city to shoot the film. "Salman immediately liked her. She pretty and very caring," says a source who has seen them through their relationship.

Their romance has taken off since.

Iulia, who was a model and TV anchor in her native Romania, moved to Mumbai to stay with the star.

And she's has become an integral part of the Khan household since.

She has also been a frequent visitor to the sets while Salman has been shooting Sultan. She even joined him on his family holiday in Dubai recently. At 50, Salman is a generation older than 35-year-old Iulia, but "she understands him like no one else does", says an insider.

Iulia, who started modelling very young, is a law graduate from one of Romania's well-known universities. "She is nothing like Salman's previous girlfriends. She is her own person and her world doesn't revolve around Salman," adds the source.

While Salman got his brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri to cast her in an item song in his film O Teri, his entourage insists that Iulia is not interested in a career in Bollywood. "She is not with Salman because she is looking to further her career, and that's refreshing for him."

The buzz is the Sultan actor is being pressured by his mother Salma to finally commit to the relationship. One set of rumours maintain that the couple has already tied the knot, while another faction insists that the wedding will coincide with his 51st birthday at the end of December. Both rumours couldn't be further from the truth because Salman is yet to put a ring on it.

Good movie hunting

After Housefull 3 that releases next month, Abhishek Bachchan doesn't have a film on hand. "And, it's scary," he told me earlier this week. This is the first time in 16 years since his debut with Refugee when the actor hasn't signed a film after a release.

"It's scary that I don't know what I am doing next. I have had my fill with comedy and I am ready to do something else," he said, adding, "we are looking for something. It's never been easy to get a film made. We are working on two-three scripts. Fingers crossed, they turn out well."

Interestingly, Kareena Kapoor Khan, who debuted alongside Abhishek, also hasn't signed anything after Udta Punjab.

However, she is quite excited by this prospect of uncertainty. "The fact that my year's schedule hasn't been planned down to the last day is such a blissful feeling. It's been 16 years since, and every day has been planned, so this feels good. Sometimes, it's nice not to know," she had said, a few months ago. She is currently holidaying in London with her girlfriends including Amrita Arora-Ladak.

Bollywood's Ms Scrooge

It's been almost six months since this A-list couple decided their relationship wasn't working. While he has moved on and out of the home they lovingly decorated together, she continues to live there. And, he continues to foot the rent for the plush apartment and all the amenities that come with the home. This was the arrangement when they were a couple and she doesn't feel the need to change it.

Anyone who has known the actress through her Bollywood stint can't be surprised by her stinginess. She is one of the best-paid actresses in the industry and has multiple endorsements with the biggest brands, but she's always been tight-fisted.

"Many members of her entourage don't even get paid, especially the stylists. Others like her driver and spot boy haven't got a raise in years," says a source close to the A-lister.

Both his accountant and his mom are not happy about him paying her rents apparently. They hope she offers to pick up the tab herself. There's greater likelihood of her winning an Oscar than her loosening her purse strings, sniggers the source. Tsk tsk!