Patel: Pinto and I make things work (From York Press)

Patel: Pinto and I make things work

8:23am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Dev Patel has said "the will to make things work" helps him get through long absences from girlfriend Freida Pinto.

The pair met on the set of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, and have continued dating despite frequent spells apart making movies.

When asked how he coped with a long-distance relationship, Dev revealed: "You just do, it's the will to make things work I guess... Skype helps, that's true."

Dev returned to India to shoot his new film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which also stars Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Dame Maggie Smith.

The former Skins star said it was "beautiful" to go back to the country where he made Slumdog Millionaire.

He continued: "I had the fondest memories from filming there the first time, obviously. The best thing about India is they have the most wonderful crews, everyone's so pleased to be working, and that's why we can make a movie so optimistic like this one because it was just so much fun."