KARACHI: Imtiaz Ali, the Director behind Bollywood rom-com “Love Aj Kal” and superhit “Rockstar” recently announced his separation from his wife.

According to Indian media sources Ali and his wife Preety had been having problems in their marriage for more than a year. The divorce has been kept secret as the former couple did not want their 11-year-old daughter Ida to be affected.

After the separation Preety, who has experience working as an Executive Producer on several productions, now aims to launch her career as a full-fledged director.

Moreover, rumors have surfaced that Ali has been interested in Pakistani model and actress Iman Ali, with whom he has reportedly had numerous rendezvous’. Apparently, Ali and Iman’s courtship has also been kept under wraps and only a few people know about it.

The Khuda Kay Liye debutant was also featured in the 2011 Pakistani superhit ‘Bol’ and is the daughter of veteran Film and Television Actor Abid Ali.

About the affair an un-named source disclosed that, "Iman was introduced to the director by mutual friends in B-Town last year. Since then, they've become very close. In fact, just a day before the release of Rockstar, Imtiaz and Iman visited the Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi last year as well as in April this year."

Relationships between directors and actors are no new thing in Bollywood. Recently Anurag Kashyap, the Director behind DevD fell for his-now wife actress Kalki Koechin.