Sportsmen and filmstars make for the nation`s most glamorous Page 3 profiles. In the past, they have known to make great mates as well, married as they are to a chic lifestyle. So Mahima Chaudhary pursuing ace tennis player Leander Paes seemed only a logical move. What followed were close encounters of the Mills and Boons kind.

Holidays in Orlando, joint appearances at dos and joints, as also Mahima`s new-found passion for sports. But the adventurous game soon began to meander towards a dull draw, when rumours about Mahima`s beau playing defensive about the commitment began to filter in. The split was evident when Chaudhary played truant at Paes` peer, Mahesh Bhupathi`s, marriage to model Svetha Jaishanker, an occasion she would have otherwise attended on Leander`s arms.

Reportedly, the spirited girl has re-picked the last strands of a sagging career and has resolved to co-operate with filmmakers, hoping for a professional face-lift. One thing the sportsman seemed to have taught the otherwise fiery maiden is to take knock-outs sportingly.