Mumbai: A recent video of Arjun Bijlani and Mouni Roy stepping out after dinner sparked dating rumours online after a paparazzi page shared the clip with a suggestive caption.
As speculation grew, Arjun addressed the rumours and dismissed them as baseless.
The actor also criticised gossip pages for turning genuine friendships into clickbait content, saying it was disappointing to see his years-old friendship with Mouni being given a romantic angle simply to generate engagement.
He added that supporting a friend during a difficult phase should not automatically lead to speculation about a romantic relationship.
“Dear Clickbait pages, Two people who’ve shared a friendship for 15+ years don’t suddenly become a couple because a gossip page needs a headline. Sometimes, people simply show up for each other, especially when a friend is going t
hrough a difficult time. Not every friendship needs a romantic angle for views. A little fact-checking before publishing would go a long way. Let’s be responsible with the narratives we create,” Arjun wrote on his social media handle.
Urging media pages to report responsibly, he added, “We request media pages to verify facts before spreading misleading stories that unnecessarily invade people’s personal lives and create confusion. Responsible journalism builds credibility. Clickbait doesn’t.”
After coming across the paparazzi post suggesting that Arjun and Mouni were romantically involved, actor Krystle D’Souza also called out the unnecessary speculation.
She posted, “What is this nonsense. Just for views you guys will post anything.”
Arjun and Mouni have been friends for more than 15 years. The two became popular as Ritik and Shivanya in Ektaa Kapoor’s hit show ‘Naagin’ in 2015 and won praise for their on-screen chemistry.
However, off-screen, the two have always maintained that they share a close friendship.
Over the years, they have continued to support and cheer for each other, both on social media and at industry events.