November 16, 2011, (Sawf News) - Ritesh Deshmukh has for the first time publically acknowledged his seven year romance with Genelia D'Souza and confirmed reports that they plan to marry early in 2012. In an interview with the TOI Ritesh said, "Genelia and I are getting married next year. We haven't fixed the date yet, but it will be early 2012. We are working on the details."

A source had earlier told Sawfnews.com exclusively that the two stars got engaged on September 11, 2011. The engagement ceremony was a very private affair with just the families of the couple present. Asked why he and Genelia had kept their relationship under wraps for so long, Ritesh said, "I've always been a very private person and wasn't comfortable talking about it."

He added, "We are both from non-filmi families…Both of us didn't know how to deal with the focus on our personal lives, so we agreed to keep it private," The fact that he comes from a political family had nothing to do with his reluctance to talk about the relationship, he says.

Ritesh, 32, and Genelia, 24, first met on the set of Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003), Ritesh's Bollywood debut film. They have been dating each other since then. Ritesh is now sure Genelia is the one for him. "I think we grew up together. We learnt about life, love and work together. It was gradual. It wasn't overnight. We were friends and the bond just grew and became stronger. I just felt that she was the one. I'm too much in love with her."

"I'm too much in love with her." Now that doesn't sound like a dialog from a film, but it does have the ring of words spoken from the heart. Asked if Genelia will continue to act in films after the wedding, Ritesh said, "That is entirely here decision. I will be happy with whatever she decides to do. "Ritesh and Genelia will be seen together in the upcoming comedy Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, their second pairing after Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003) that additionally stars Om Puri. The film bows in theaters on February 17, 2012.