It may seem suspicious that Richa Chadha and Ali  Fazal decided to go public with their relationship at this juncture when he has an important international release, Victoria and Abdul, coming up.

Given their collaborative professional interests, it seems a little suspicious that Bollywood’s latest out-of-the-closet couple zipped off together to Venice to attend the premiere of Ali’s big-ticket British drama.

So, while the timing of their public announcement may seem iffy, there is buzz that their commitment to one another is “strong and for keeps.” In fact, Ali and Richa intend to get married early next year. No wonder Ali introduced Richa to his distinguished octogenarian friend Judi Dench.

While Ali and Richa celebrate their togetherness in Europe the first reviews of Victoria and Abdul are out. They are not encouraging. Well, there is always love to fall back on.