According to a report published in a Mumbai newspaper (DNA), Rakhi Sawant's ex-boyfriend Abhishek Awasthi fell in love with Shradha while working out at a gym in the Four Bungalows area of Andheri in suburban Mumbai sometime around January of this year.

According to a source who was also a member of the gym at that time, both Abhishek and Shradha were on the same shift and as usual the wild and sexy Shradha would come to work out wearing some of her most outrageous outfits.

Not just Abhishek, but most of the male members in the gym were stunned and shocked with Shradha's outfits and showered her with attention.

Abhishek was floored. He would keep staring at Shradha all the time while working out. Finally when she changed her timings to enable her to shoot for the TV serial she was doing, Abhishek also ensured that he was on the same shift.

That's where love blossomed and bloomed, says our source. Apparently, Shradha and Abhishek began spending hours together. They would come together and leave together.

But Shradha didn't know that Abhishek was in love with her and was two-timing Rakhi Sawant. "Shradha always thought that Abhishek was Rakhi's boyfriend and that he was only being a good friend to her and a perfect gentleman.

He would help her with her luggage and take good care of her. He even told her that he will break off with Rakhi to be with her, " says another colleague who has worked with Shradha on one of her TV projects, " says our source.

However, both Shradha and Abhishek have now denied their relationship. Abhishek has claimed that he only loves Rakhi and is not interested in Shradha. He even alleged that Shradha is using his name only for publicity.

Meanwhile, Shradha's publicist and Media Manager, Flynn Remedios issued a written denial. "Shradha doesn't need Abhishek for publicity and they are just good friends. They are not in any relationship, " he claimed.