London, April 27 : Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel's mum has confirmed her son's off-screen love with Freida Pinto.

Patel and Pinto have always denied dating each other but the pair was recently caught enjoying an intimate lunch date in Israel, where Pinto, 24, is filming on location.

And Patel's mum Anita says she is really pleased to see the two in love.

"First it was the film and now everything else seems to have slotted into place," the Mirror quoted Anita as saying.

"Life can't get any better for him. Freida is really beautiful and I am really happy for them. Yes, we knew he was flying to Israel to see her," she added.

The real life love story is said to have started on the set of Danny Boyle's multi-Oscar-winning film.

And they have become increasingly close since travelling the world together to promote the movie. (ANI)