Shilpa Shetty Raj Kundra tying the knot?

Industry gossip has it that the babe-with-the-figure-of-a-mannequin hot-bod Shilpa Shetty is all set to get married in December this year with long time beau Raj Kundra. The couple have been going steady for close to two and a half years now and Shilpa's dad is touring the passport office in Surat repeatedly to acquire his passport which is currently withheld on account of an ongoing criminal investigation. Papa Shetty had supposedly sent some goons behind a cloth store merchant in Surat when he had refused to pay Shilpa the dues for a modelling assignment she had done for the store and got himself embroiled in a criminal case. Daddy Shetty, now, has appealed for a release of the passport citing the reason to be that he has to attend his daughter's wedding which is slated to be held anywhere in the months from September to December this year.

Shilpa, however, is calling the 'It’s-all-pure-rubbish' shots. The big brother winner insists that the passport is being sought for her dad's London travel to attend beau Raj Kundra's birthday which is dated in the same month. And it has got nothing to do with her marriage. It's a birthday on the cards and not marriage, she insists. To quote an agitated Shilpa,

The passport is certainly not meant for my wedding, please! It’s not happening in October, November, December or any of the dates that have been fixed for my wedding in the media. Raj and I will announce the date from the rooftops and invite the entire press corps to be part of the baraat when it happens. In the meanwhile, please leave my father alone.

The couple were engaged early this year in the month of March and have been going steady ever since. Shilpa's mother has been known to approve of the groom from the beginning. Raj Kundra, after all, is a valuable catch. He is one of the youngest Brit Asians to have made it to the top 200 Brit Asian's millionaire list. A self made man, Kundra had started out as a fashion clothing supplier to various international apparel brands. Later on, he moved on to more lucrative businesses such as diamonds and precious metals exports and electronics exports. A college drop out, Kundra has also, today, with Shilpa as a crutch, made a foray into Bollywood movie production as well as holds a 10% stake with Shilpa Shetty in the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, of which Shilpa Shetty also happens to be the brand ambassador.

The couple had faced a few glitches in the initial periods of their relationship as it had blossomed out of an extra marital affair. Raj Kundra was previously married to Kavita Kundra and also has a child. The ex-wife had gone publicly on record accusing Shilpa of having broken her marriage with Raj because Raj was smitten by Shilpa's beauty. Shilpa, however, has always been unapologetic about the fact and has often quoted that Raj was the only person who gave her comfort in the lonely life that she had been leading for quite some time now.

Her previous relationship in her early twenties with Akshay Kumar had ended in bitterness when Akshay had dumped her. She has often stated 'All I know about myself and about life is because of that relationship'. After a brief relationship with producer-director Anubhav Sinha, Shilpa had started to feel the pinch of the void again and when Raj happened, he had smoothly slid into that void to give her comfort.

So, now that they are going thick and seem to be committed to each other, while their partnership has also been doling out financial results and success to both the partners, is marriage actually on the cards? 'Yes', says Shilpa, but doesn't fail to add,

At the moment we’ve our hands full with many new exciting ventures. We need get the space in our lives to plan and enjoy this wonderful event. Haath peele karne ke liye haath khali to hone chahiye.

Makes me wonder what is the cause behind all the dilly-dallying... Do certain doubts still persist in the minds of Shilpa or Raj? Two things, however, are for sure. First, Bollywood actresses have traditionally shied away from commitment and marriage. Shilpa, in her mid-thirties already, is no different. Second, she has put her father's passport release in appeal in jeopardy by stating that no marriage is on the cards. So, if daddy shetty is to travel to South London to celebrate to-be-son-in-law Kundra's birthday with the rest of the in-law family, he and Shilpa will have to pray hard that the Judge doesn't follow Bollywood gossip.

Here's wishing them luck!