Even as actors cry themselves hoarse denying they are a couple!

Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza have never publicly accepted their relationship.

Denying rumours over the years, the two continue to maintain their 'just good friends' status quo. However, insiders joke that their new film, Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, is the Guru of Riteish and Genelia's lives.

"Just like Mani Ratnam's movie was for Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai a couple of months before their April wedding in 2007," our source points out.

Abhi-Ash came out with their relationship just before the promotion for Ratnam's Guru was to start. Of course, the film went on to become a big hit, earning the two actors acclaim for their performances.

Similarly, Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, directed by Mandeep Kumar, is scheduled to release early next year before the couple's reported marriage takes place. Hopefully, they will also finally reveal their relationship status like the Junior Bachchans before that.

In the meanwhile, however, the bond the actors share has become too obvious for anyone to ignore.

"The other day, during the ongoing schedule in Manali, Riteish and his staff were playing a game called Knocking The Bottle. The bottle was placed at some distance and they had to knock it off with pebbles.

Soon Genelia came and was cheering for Riteish," reveals our source, adding that she joined in the fun soon enough.

And that's not all. We also learnt that on Monday afternoon, both of them insisted on going out for lunch before the late shift.

"After a hearty meal, they headed to Lazy Dog, a cafe where they continued their post-lunch session with desserts and coffee," adds the source.

Enthusiastic about the progress his new movie is making, producer Kumar Taurani says that they had Riteish in mind even during the scripting stages.

When he heard the script, the actor committed to it immediately. "While casting the female lead, we were looking for someone chirpy and bubbly. At the same time, the girl had to look perfect with Riteish.

And Genelia seemed perfect," enthuses the filmmaker, adding that the actress also jumped at the offer.

Taurani is obviously over the moon with the turn of events. "The film is turning out to be just as we pictured it, and the chemistry between the two is crackling," he says.