/> Though neither party is willing to talk about it (wonder why!) Ranvir Shorey and Konkona Sen-Sharma are, according to mutual friends, as engaged to one another as can be.

So why the secrecy?

"It's a personal choice. We like to keep our personal life away from the limelight. All I can say is, I'm very content with my life and career."

Ranvir would much rather talk about his new film with Mira Nair where he co-stars with Konkona. They've worked together before in a wife-swapping film Mixed Doubles.

"But this project is very special. It's a short film we shot in New York, part of series on human rights made by the likes of Jane Campion, Gus Van Sant and Jim Wenders. Mira Nair's film entitled How Can It Be is about women's emancipation.Konkona plays the central characters, yes. But my role is no less pivotal."

Ranvir describes the process of working with Mira as intoxicating.

The role went to Ranvir after Mira's favourite Irrfan Khan turned it down.

"So I believe, " laughs Ranvir. "I think he refused it. But Mira says I was always her first choice. In fact I met Irrfan in New York when we shot with Mira. He was doing another short film with Mira co-starring Natalie Portman."

Konkona was all but signed to play Tabu's role in Mira Nair's The Namesake. She had opted out because the dates clashed with her mother Aparna Sen's 17 Park Avenue.

Ranvir says working with Konkona is an easy experience. "It's an advantage to work with a friend. You can speak your mind freely without the fear of offending the other party."

Ranvir said he had an easy time working with Mallika on his next release Ugly Aur Pagli. "There were a couple of times when we had ugly run-ins. But overall she has been very nice to me. Once when I was ill she got me food. Mallika is the star of Ugly Aur Pagli. Not me."