The actress, who doesn’t stay with Salman but has her own little apartment, was linked first with Ranbir (with whom she is doing Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani) and now John. Salman, who is said to keep a tab on her phone, was reportedly upset to find text messages exchanged between his girlfriend and John. But Katz defended her New York co-star, “John was a sweetheart, we enjoyed each other’s company. There are some friendships that are carried on even after the film is completed. But John and I never became that kind of friends. The SMSes were old ones, not new. All this is rubbish.”

So where does that leave her? “What stuff of mine has Salman thrown away,” she asked. “I haven’t given him any gifts till date. And all my other personal stuff is still lying around in his house, intact. Most importantly, my photographs are still hanging on the walls.” 

In the past rumours have linked him to Mallika Sherawat (when the two did a world tour), Lara Dutta (Elaan) and Vidya Balan (Salaam-e-Ishq); and now, according to media reports, John’s the object of affection of Salman Khan’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif — his co-star in New York. While the rumour mills buzz with stories of Katrina and John being phone buddies, some also suggest that Salman actually threw Katrina’s stuff out of his home because he didn’t like the idea of his girl bonding with his foe, John. Since these rumours come in the wake of the New York publicity campaign, both John and Katrina have got the benefit of the doubt from another section of the media, which believes that all this Kat-John bonding is nothing but a stroke of publicity genius.

John doesn’t wish to comment on the issue. But he did reveal that the text messages exchanged in New York were only work related. “I’m astounded that I’m being pulled into something so bizarre.” A source close to the actor says, “John is not amused by the rumour. He is in a steady relationship with Bipasha Basu. Obviously vested interests have started this campaign.’’ Apparently, the actor believes that since there is absolutely no truth to the whole issue, it will blow over.

Bipasha, the other aggrieved party (Salman being the first), has complete faith in her man and says, “John and I have gone through enough of such gossip. I don’t want to give any credibility to this by even commenting on it. It is malicious and absolutely the most bizarre story involving us. Just for the knowledge of people who actually love us together, we are very happy being with each other, and we’re responsible and protective about our relationship.’’