Padma Lakshmi `dating` Vikram Chatwal

New York: Long time friends Padma Lakshmi and hotelier Vikram Chatwal have set the rumour mills spinning, after they were spotted keeping close company during the holidays.

The 42-year-old cookbook author and Chatwal, whose properties include the Dream Hotels, were first seen in courtside seats together at MSG for the Knicks/Nets game in December, the New York Post reported. Lakshmi and Chatwal were also said to be “inseparable” at the Dream’s New Year’s Eve Bash and were spotted boarding a private plane in Los Angeles this week. According to sources, Chatwal, who is still married to model Priya Sachdev, and Lakshmi have been close friends for years. ANI