Freida Pinto 'makes time for Dev Patel'

Freida Pinto has revealed that she and boyfriend Dev Patel try to never be separated for long periods of time.

The You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger actress told Glamour magazine that she needed comfort from Patel while filming in harsh environments during the production of Black Gold in Tunisia.

"There was a civil war going on," Pinto said. "People were burning down shops and malls. There was killing and bloodshed."

She continued: "I was stuck in this massive hotel with 354 rooms and only six guests. The lights kept shutting down, and there was a 5pm curfew. But I wasn't there by myself: Dev came down to see me. I was so glad I had company."

Pinto went on to reveal that the experience taught her that she and her beau must strive to make time in their hectic schedules for one another.

The star explained: "We recently realised we need a rule... because every time we think we're going to be together, something work-related comes up. But we can't put our careers on hold for this.

"We're not at the stage where we have the privilege to turn things down. So we'll say, 'You have two days off? Let's find a way to meet up.' I think you can always make it work if you want to."

The Mumbai native recently suggested that she and Patel, who met while filming the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, will never work together again.

Pinto is currently starring in Oscar-nominated director Julian Schnabel's Miral, which is now playing in US cinemas.