Bradley Cooper wanted ‘authentic love story’ for ‘A Star Is Born’

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga seem way closer than a traditional director-and-star couple, as their on-camera chemistry in “A Star Is Born” has continued to sizzle off-screen.

Cooper wanted to make their characters’ love affair as palpable as possible, multiple sources said. But it’s led to a close friendship, sparking rumors about the reasons behind Gaga’s split with her agent fiancé, Christian Carino.

“Hollywood is buzzing that Gaga fell for Bradley during preproduction and filming, creating the intense emotional energy you see on-screen and at the Oscars,” said a source, adding how “vulnerable” Gaga is. “He wanted an authentic love story on-screen.”

At a starry CAA party Friday, Cooper and Gaga seemed “very, very close . . . even though her ex-fiancé [Carino] was there — in the same room — but keeping his distance. Gaga and Bradley were cozied up on a sofa . . . [They] were inseparable, and people definitely thought it was weird.”

“There was no sign of his model girlfriend Irina Shayk,” a separate insider said.

But another guest insisted, “Bradley and Gaga were both there and hanging out, but they were not ‘together,’  ” as in a couple.

Despite their steamy Oscars performance, sources close to the stars have denied any off-stage relationship. Another source said, “Some in the industry believe Bradley may be working the situation for public attention,” but that “Gaga is an artist; she naturally goes into character to perform a song from the movie.”

A source told us of Shayk, “Irina is not happy with all the attention that the performance onstage generated. But she feels confident that nothing ever happened between Gaga and Bradley. They had chemistry during the movie shoot. But that’s that. She feels confident in her relationship for now.”

Yet another source said: “Bradley and Gaga wanted to create a performance that was a bit of an homage to the film . . . to emulate the emotion that people felt while watching the film.”

Reps did not comment.