Dev Patel, Freida duck papparazi

Multiple Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" couple Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are avoiding being photographed together.

Following a romantic dinner in a New York restaurant, the stars left for their hotel but when the pair spotted waiting photographers, Dev made a comic run away, reports newstin.co.uk.

Seeing the funny side of it, Dev began laughing while making his dash, and Freida, 25, also appeared to be amused as they out-foxed the snappers and giggled away. Frieda sauntered on alone in a white butterfly T-shirt dress.

Rumours surfaced in February as "Slumdog..." mania swept the globe that Freida and Dev, 19, were more than just friends.

Their cover was blown, however, by co-star Anil Kapoor who revealed: "When I meet them, I feel there is something happening," before adding that the couple shared "a magical chemistry".

Dev has recently been in Philadelphia filming "The Last Airbender" while Freida is being chased by casting agencies for modelling and film work.

He is also rumoured to have been lined up to play a lead role in a Hindi remake of south Indian hit "Nadodigal".