News from Mumbai is not good for Liz Hurley, and her friends are a bit concerned. The British model and actress who has become a hot subject in London gossip circles since her romance with Indian millionaire Arun Nayar began four months ago, had recently visited Mumbai to meet his parents.
The talk of the town here is that Nayar's grandmother snubbed Hurley, by refusing to see her. Kailash Nayar, the mother of Arun's father Vinod, is reportedly appalled by photographs of the couple kissing in the street in St Moritz, Switzerland, in February.
She also disapproved of the relationship because of the distress it was causing to Arun's estranged wife Valentina, a former model, who went to the US four months ago when she and Arun agreed on a trial separation.
Hurley was Valentina's friend and it was the latter who introduced Hurley to her husband Arun.
Kailash Nayar spoke to The Mail on Sunday, from her home in Marine Drive. She said: "I didn't want to meet her. It's very difficult for me to see these pictures all over the Press. In India, people who come from good families do not behave like this. It might be all right for actresses like her but Arun is a nice Indian boy from one of Bombay's best families."
She stays in constant touch with Valentina, "we still speak on the phone a lot. She is a beautiful girl but now she is just crying all the time over this. She introduced Arun to Liz. Liz was her friend. She cannot believe what has happened. Now this Liz Hurley has been in Bombay, too. It is horrible for her, so humiliating. She will not come to Bombay anymore because of this."
{{/usCountry}}She stays in constant touch with Valentina, "we still speak on the phone a lot. She is a beautiful girl but now she is just crying all the time over this. She introduced Arun to Liz. Liz was her friend. She cannot believe what has happened. Now this Liz Hurley has been in Bombay, too. It is horrible for her, so humiliating. She will not come to Bombay anymore because of this."
{{/usCountry}}Arun's mother Gunnar, however, reportedly enjoyed a three-hour lunch with Hurley at Oberoi Hotel.
Hurley's friends in London say she is in love with Arun and that her Mumbai visit indicates that the relationship is getting serious. One friend reportedly said: "Liz was nervous about meeting Arun’s parents because he is not yet divorced. But she is very serious about Arun and was ready to spend time with his family. Their relationship is going from strength to strength and Liz is head over heels about him."
Arun, who is recovering from a skiing accident, refused to comment on the trip. He said: "I can't talk about the trip. I'm fine and trying to recover."