New Delhi, December 12: YOU probably wouldn’t have heard of Priya Sachdev until some months ago when tales about her betrothal to flamboyant US-based hotelier Vikram Chatwal spiralled into newsprint. And until a few days ago, she looked on them in amusement. But the playboy finally popped the question. And Sachdev accepted. ‘‘I’m just a bit surprised, I didn’t think it would happen this fast,’’ she says.

The Delhi gal is currently shuttling between home and Mumbai shooting for her debut television show where she gives the lowdown on films, celebrities (close pals Soha Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt) and gossip. Does she enjoy being a Page 3 person herself? ‘‘Like it or not, I am. Because everyone’s talking about me.’’

More so now, since the engagement has surprised not just her, but the couple’s friends and families too. ‘‘His reputation has just been blown out of proportion,’’ she defends Chatwal. ‘‘He’s really a good guy, a son that most parents would love to have. He has a strong mind and strong family values. I think he’s super sexy.’’

The two met through good friend and mentor Queenie Dhody. While Chatwal’s parents were interested in their son marrying Sachdev, he was shy of commitment. ‘‘I wasn’t worried if he would marry me or not,’’ says Sachdev. ‘‘I was glad to have more time to enjoy him.’’

Chatwal was in India to promote his film, One Dollar Curry, at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2004 in Goa, and was in Mumbai for Dhody’s birthday party on Friday night. On Thursday evening, he told Sachdev that he wanted to go to the gurudwara. In true filmi style, after they both did the matha tek, he slipped a 10-carat diamond ring on her finger. ‘‘He said, ‘This is an engagement ring. Do you accept?’’’ says Sachdev. ‘‘I was stunned. We couldn’t even hug in the temple. But we called his family and then called mine and everyone was very surprised.’’

So when is the big day then? ‘‘Marriage will happen when we’re both ready. We just want to stay engaged for now, and concentrate on our work,’’ she says. Bollywood offers have already poured in for this Bharat Natyam and Kathak dancer, but most of them have involved playing the third angle in a love triangle. ‘‘I don’t want to start as the other woman,’’ says Sachdev. Apparently, certain producers have also offered striptease roles claiming that she could be the next Bipasha Basu of Jism. ‘‘My parents were very reluctant to let me come here after horror stories of the casting couch. They’d shoot me if I did this,’’ she shudders.

This one-time New York-dwelling investment banker’s dream role is with Salman Khan. ‘‘I’ve watched every one of his songs,’’ she squeals. Ask her how she’d convince a producer to cast her in his movie and she flips her head coyly and whispers: ‘‘Aapko mujhse achchi actress kahin nahin milengi.’’

- with EFS