House hassle for stars

Celebs speak on the highs and lows of having a room partner.

This is one of those situations when real life and reel life are not very different. While the obsessive roommate in Single White Female may represent a rare extreme, the mixed bag of Three's Company and Friends show us the lighter side of sharing living space with other people. And our home-grown celebs are no different from us when it comes to roomie highs and lows.

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While some have faced jealousy and run-ins with their roommates, others have had very pleasant experiences, where the worst was friendly squabbles over neatness. While some are thrilled to be rid of their roommates, others look back on the experience very fondly.

Actress Koena Mitra was among the unluckier ones. After she started sharing a place with the Gladrags runner-up, troubles cropped up when the roomie got jealous of the assignments that poured into Koena's kitty. She even 'borrowed' Koena's clothes and forgot to return them.

However, actress Priya Wal found only one flaw in her roommate: the latter was a neatness freak. And Model Deepika Padukone thinks that in the rushed, high-energy world of modelling, it is imperative for people to respect another's need for undisturbed rest.

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CELEB SPEAK

KOENA MITRA, ACTRESS
After I won at Gladrags, I had moved into a house with the runner-up, a Pune girl. While I set up house, she got the gadgets. But problems started after I got more work.

PRIYA WAL, ACTRESS
My roommate and I were best friends. The only problem was that If I moved a thing five inches from where it should have been, she would notice it. Otherwise, it was great.

DEEPIKA PADUKONE, MODEL

How to live in peace

Know thy roommate: Talk to the would-be roommates. Find out their quirks, likes and dislikes. Then decide on which issues to compromise on. If you cannot adjust, then get you own room Make rules: Once you have decided to stay together, work out schedules, money and lifestyle issues Size matters: The smaller the issue, the bigger the consequence. The way you eat your food might not strike you as a big deal but the slurping noise could be hell for your roommate Space it out: Privacy comes at a premium, whether you share a flat or stay a paying guest

I have always been lucky enough to share space with someone I know or have shared with before when I go out for shoots. It is all about understanding and adjustment.

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