But now we hear the relationship has for all practical purposes reached a dedend. With Hooda's career on a sudden if not a steep upturn, we hear Neetu is tired of fitting into the Good Girlfriend Ideal Wife-material slot.
While the industry was talking of a wedding date Neetu we hear has other plans. She is ready to strike back on screen, this time in a desi avatar of Uma Thurman's kickass role in Kill Bill. The stunts would be on a par with what our Bollywood he-men do in action scenes.
In collaboration with producer Siddhartha Jain Neetu will create what is secretly being referred to as the Female Dhoom franchise.
"Not like some actresses who did a few flips and somersaults and had everyone going wah-wah over their derringdo. Neetu will actually be performing all the stunts that are associated with the action genre.
She is as trained and equipped for the athletic stuff as Vidyut Jamwal who made such a terrific impact on Force, " says the excited producer Siddhartha Jain, as he works out the nitty-gritty of the gritty series.
Neetu who is the only certified blackbelter in martial arts would be performing all the stunts in the films that are are going to be made in the series.
Says Neetu, "With due respects my female colleagues like Deepika Padukone in Chandni Chowk To China or Priyanka Chopra in Don who have thrashed around their limbs in so-called action scenes, I don't think we've had a genuine female action star since Fearless Nadia. I feel we're ready for some kickass female action. I've trained in the martial arts for 11 years. So far none of my roles has been action-oriented. Of late I had begun to get very restless. There's a lot of pent-up energy within me. "
Could the effort to be the demure sedate lady in waiting have taken its toll on Neetu's energy level?
She bursts out indignantly, "I don't know where these rumours of marriage are coming from. It was only when a very dear filmmaker friend recently asked if I'd like to do his film that I got to know there was a prevalent belief that I'm getting ready to quit. For the record I'm not getting married for another five years. "
Another relationship in the entertainment business has fallen prey to the pressures of career management. RIP.
