Dev Patel and Freida PintoSlumdog Millionnaire stars Freida Pinto and Dev Patel have fuelled rumours they’re dating in real life after being spotted on a lunch date together.

The pair sparked rumours that they were an item during their many red carpet dates during award season - but dismissed suggestions that they were together. However, this week, they were spotted cuddling up together over lunch at an outdoor cafe in Israel, where Freida is filming a new movie, Miral.

An onlooker explained: “She couldn’t help cuddling up to him. They kept staring into each other’s eyes.

“They were certainly acting like a couple, especially when she put her head on his shoulder.

“The only time they [were apart] was when they left the bar and tried to act like they weren’t together.”

Miral’s director Julian Schnabel said recently that there is definite chemistry between the pair: “As I matter of fact, when I meet them I feel there is something happening.

“She says I have to look after him and I have to babysit him and that kind of stuff, [but I think] this is the beginning of something exciting happening. They definitely make a great pair. Both of them look very good together.”