Hollywood actress and model Jaime King has publicly denied swirling reports that she is romantically involved with hotelier Vikram Chatwal, insisting her recent sightings with him were strictly professional. The 46-year-old star moved to set the record straight after a tabloid story suggested she had moved on from her fiancé, Family Office investor Austin Sosa.
Business, Not Pleasure: King Sets the Record Straight
According to an initial report from Page Six, King and the 54-year-old Chatwal were allegedly seen sharing an affectionate display last week at the famed Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. Sources further claimed the pair were spotted together again just days later at Bombay Palace in Beverly Hills, a restaurant chain founded by Chatwal's father.
King, however, strongly contested this narrative. On Wednesday, she told Page Six the encounters were merely 'business meetings with a friend nothing more.' She emphatically reaffirmed her commitment to her fiancé, stating, 'I’m very happy in my relationship with Austin.' The couple got engaged in July of last year.
The Daily Mail noted that King's representatives were contacted for comment, but the actress's direct rebuttal came after the story was published.
A Glimpse into Vikram Chatwal's Controversial Past
The reports linking King to Vikram Chatwal brought renewed attention to the hotelier's controversial background. A decade ago, Chatwal was sentenced to five days of community service after being convicted on charges including torturing and injuring animals, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief for 'setting two dogs on fire.'
His legal troubles run in the family. His father, Sant Chatwal, pleaded guilty to witness tampering and conspiracy charges related to federal campaign donations just two years prior. Chatwal himself has been a fixture on New York and Hollywood social scenes, having been friends with Lindsay Lohan and linked to models including Esther Cañadas and Padma Lakshmi.
He was previously married to Indian model Priya Sachdev in a $20 million wedding ceremony in 2006; the couple divorced in 2011 and share an 18-year-old daughter, Safira.
King's Personal Struggles: Custody Battles and Financial Woes
The dating rumours emerge during a tumultuous period in Jaime King's personal life. Last March, she lost primary physical custody of her two sons, James, 12, and Leo, 10, following a protracted divorce from ex-husband Kyle Newman.
Court documents reveal King has supervised visitation 'three times a week in specific hour blocks' after failing to complete court-ordered programmes, including a six-month drug and alcohol program. Newman has labelled her a 'chronic drug addict and alcoholic' in legal filings, claims King disputes, alleging he misrepresented their relationship in court.
Financial difficulties have also plagued the actress. She reportedly still owes $100,000 in legal fees from her divorce and was previously locked out of her LA home over $42,000 in unpaid rent. Newman claims she has repeatedly failed to pay court-ordered child and spousal support.
Despite these challenges, King continues to work. She recently filmed the faith-based thriller 'Redemption' in Las Vegas and has several other projects in development. She also maintains influencer partnerships with various brands.
