Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) Kirron and Anupam Kher's son Sikandar denies rumours that he is dating Gul Panag and says such reports are harming her career.

'For the last time, I'm not seeing Gul. How many times do I have to say that? These never-ending rumours about our so-called romance are harming her career,' Sikandar told IANS.

'This industry doesn't tolerate leading ladies who come in with the baggage of a boyfriend. After 'Dor', Gul's getting great offers. She's a dear friend and I'm happy to see her doing well. In fact, she's working with Sanjay Gupta, and that makes two of us working for the same production house. That's as close as we get professionally,' he added.

Sikandar blurts out that he's seeing someone other than Gul.

'But please don't mention her name. She's not a part of the industry. Our relationship is just growing. She has warned me she'll leave the minute our relationship is mentioned in the press.

'At the moment I don't even want to think about love. My career matters more than anything else. I want to make my parents proud. They've worked so hard for their reputation. I don't want them to be known as the father of an enfant terrible.'

Rumours are like roller-skates. You never know which way they would skid, especially if you are a star kid. Some time ago, the rumours doing the rounds were that Sikandar had irked his producer Sanjay Gupta and director Hansal Mehta for his alleged misconduct with the leading lady of his debut film 'Woodstock Villa' and that the film had been shelved.

However, both the director and producer now admit that Sikandar's film has been completed and is ready for release. The last schedule was shot in Mauritius.

The young actor can now breathe a sigh of relief.

'Only one song remains to be done. And that's pending because there was a cyclone in Mauritius. Thank god the rumours can now be put to rest. For some time now, I was made out to be this atrocious ogre from outer space.'

Sikandar admits to some of the stories doing the rounds.

'I admit I was a wild child, but I've put my wild days behind me now. I hardly party. I only go to the gym and to the sets. That's it.'

He blames the series of stinkers on his activities on his proximity to the Bachchans.

'No one can digest my closeness to Abhishek and his family. Abhishek is like the brother I never had. He scolds me and disciplines me. The other day a paper wrote that he gives me expensive gifts. Of course, he does. And I love it.

'But the same paper says Abhishek plays a mediator and sympathetic shoulder in my friendship with Gul Panag. That's complete bull. First of all, Abhishek has better things to do.'