Liz denies Arun is her past, but his Indian-ness could be a problem.
Elizabeth Hurley, laughing off the report in a Sunday tabloid that her marriage with Arun Nayar was off, said she had not been even engaged to him. But, she also denied that their relationship was over.
Her agent clarified, "It was an invention of the Press that Elizabeth and Arun were getting married and they are highly amused to be told that their wedding is now off.
"They are eagerly awaiting the next fictionalised instalment of their riveting matrimony plans." But behind the usual passing of the buck to the media, there are, according to their friends, various other reasons for the decline in the ardour between the two.
Arun's Indian cultural heritage where man maintains the woman and is dominant over her has possibly much to do with the cooling off. He reportedly resents being seen as a "kept man".
Also after paying £625,000 to his estranged Italian wife Valentina Pedroni, he has been reportedly struggling to keep up with the jet set lifestyle of Liz. The local media believes that the couple rely on Liz's earnings which include a £2million-a-year modelling contract with Estee Lauder.
It is alleged that the money troubles came to a head on the couple's recent visit to India. A friend is quoted saying, "Arun said he had a cash-flow problem and Liz was paying for everything." But he was not happy about it. "He's a proud Indian man but Liz wants to do everything for him and he really feels trapped."
{{/usCountry}}It is alleged that the money troubles came to a head on the couple's recent visit to India. A friend is quoted saying, "Arun said he had a cash-flow problem and Liz was paying for everything." But he was not happy about it. "He's a proud Indian man but Liz wants to do everything for him and he really feels trapped."
{{/usCountry}}Alison Bowyer who has written a book Liz Hurley Uncovered has related a few incidents where Arun was highly embarrassed. She said to a daily that two weeks ago at the charity Fashion Rocks for the Princes (Charles) Trust, Arun was seething after what he felt was a humiliating put-down by Robbie Williams. After it the couple had a flaming row.
Bowyer attributed the reported cooling off to resentments, rows and Arun being fed up with being Mr Liz Hurley. Then under Italian law he till remains married to Pedroni. But, she also says Liz's assets glamour, wealth and fame are the biggest handicaps when it comes to settling down.
She could not hold on to Hugh Grant despite 14-year long friendship nor could she settle down with Hollywood producer Steve Bing. Would she settle with Arun now hinges on their coming holiday to celebrate his birthday. It could be their last togetherness or it might lead to a more stable relationship.
But Liz has to understand that Arun is fed up being expected to be all the time at her back and call, said an Indian friend. Is it then that Arun's Indian part is revolting?