Masaba Gupta denies ‘seeing’ Leander Paes

The gossip about tennis star Leander Paes’ love life just doesn’t die.

Latest buzz around town is that there is a romance brewing between him and fashion designer Masaba Gupta. Both are currently in Paris and Gupta posted group selfies, or ‘usies’, with Paes in them.

Asked about the rumours, Gupta was shocked and denied it all.

“Are Leander and me seeing each other? The answer is NO,” Gupta told ET Panache in an email.

“This is the first time I have met him in my life. I am on a holiday with some family friends whom I vacation every year with. He (Paes) is a friend of theirs and that’s how I met him. I am told Leander is here playing the BNP Paribas tournament in Paris. Secondly, I am 25 years old and he is 41... he is a friend of my uncle’s and that’s the capacity of our relationship.”



Masaba with Paes and friends in Paris

A s k e d h ow she thinks this rumour started, she said, “I am a straightforward person and don't mince my words... but this is the first time I have been dragged into something of this sort. It just shows how amusing people and their minds can be. I am a professional and have been put into this given that I am young. But I am not vulnerable nor am I naive. I am a businesswoman who is focused on building my business and I’m focusing on my career.”

Gupta adds, “Having said that, I respect Mr Leander Paes as an individual and a sportsman that I have idolised growing up and I wish him luck in every endeavour.”

Paes is involved in a bitter custody battle with his estranged live-in partner, Rhea Pillai, over their daughter Aiyana. Recently, Paes filed a complaint against cricketer Atul Sharma, Pillai’s friend, accusing him of threatening him and his daughter.