/> A rumour that Randeep has not only taught Sushmita horse-riding to play Jhansi Ki Rani but also be playing a role in Sushmita's production of Jhansi Ki Rani has both of them chuckling in disbelief.

"Where do you hear all this? It's complete rubbish," says Sushmita. "The casting is still in the preliminary stages. No names have been locked in yet."

Randeep who's currently shooting for a new film with another Bengali beauty Raima Sen (his co-star in his next release Ru-ba-ru is another Bengali Rituparno Sengupta) is even more forthright.

"I don't know where these reports are coming from. I'm caught up in my shooting and haven't been in touch with Sushmita at all.

No talk about roles or horse riding between us. We haven't spoken for quite some time. I'm barely mastering the art of horse-riding. Where am I equipped to teach anyone the art?

In any case, I don't recommend horse-riding for Sushmita. There's a lot of dust and pollen from the grass and hay that could cause severe allergic attacks."

As for being offered a role in Rani Laxmibai Randeep says, "I've had no offer from her to be part of her film. If I do get one I'd consider it professionally like any other project."

In the meanwhile Sushmita and Randeep's only film together Karma Confessions & Holi produced by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and in the pipeline for the last two years, is being readied for release, long after the lead pair's relationship is over.

Says a source, "Why not? If Jab We Met could turn out to be such a rage after Shahid and Kareena separated, why not Karma Confessions & Holi after the lead pair has gone their separate ways?

Maybe splits are lucky for movies. Mughal-e-Azam became an all-time classic. Dilip Kumar and Madhubala had split during the film.And when Kamal Amrohi made Pakeezah Meena Kumari was long-divorced from him."

However the rumour the Karma Confessions & Holi is going straight to a DVD release is strongly refuted by B.R Sharan, Chief Creative Officer, SaReGaMa films.

"It's a very prestigious film for us. Hence we've taken our time to put in place a marketing and publicity plan that's appropriate for a film that tackles very modern very human emotions and stars a former Ms Universe Sushmita Sen, supermodel Naomi Campbell, Robert de Niro's daughter Drena, Randeep Hooda, Deepal Shaw, besides Suresh Oberoi, Rati Agnihotri and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy.

We're almost ready and Karma Confessions & Holi should be in theatres by April/May 2008."

Randeep Hooda is however, unaware of the film's release plans.