Beautiful Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is denying she had an affair with Antonio Banderas and caused his split with Melanie Griffith.
As new rumors emerge that he is quietly dating Sharon Stone, Sherawat sparked rumors after she was shown in a video seductively dancing with Banderas at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. Radaronline.com even reported she went on a subsequent vacation with the 53-year-old actor.
Sherawat said in a statement to E! News, “Antonio Banderas is a wonderful man, a great dancer and an acquaintance of mine. I did not go on any vacation with him, and I’m sorry he’s going through a divorce.”
She added of Ivan Bitton, who had described her alleged flirtation with Banderas at Cannes to Radar, “Ivan Bitton is not my best friend. I hired him as a stylist at Cannes and then fired him. I’m sure he released the video.
“I don’t know what he’s even talking about now. I haven’t been in touch with Ivan since I fired him. Whatever he’s saying about me is ridiculous.”
Griffith and Banderas announced the end of their marriage after 18 years together earlier this month after she filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
“We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost twenty years marriage in a loving and friendly manner honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together.”
British magazine Grazia is reporting that Banderas is now quietly dating Stone, 56.
The magazine quoted an insider who said, “Antonio and Sharon have been great friends for years. They have always flirted outrageously, and now they’re closer than ever. It’s all very relaxed at the moment and they want to keep it quiet out of respect for Melanie, but there’s no denying the spark is there.”
The insider added, “Antonio and Sharon are making plans for a getaway together in July. They’ve both been married twice before and are just enjoying having fun.”
We have reached out to reps for both Banderas and Stone, but they have yet to comment.