16 July,2026 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Arjun Bijlani, Mouni Roy and Krystle D`Souza. Pics via X and IMDb
Television actor Arjun Bijlani has strongly condemned fake relationship rumours linking him with his longtime friend Mouni Roy, urging gossip pages to stop turning genuine friendships into sensational headlines. This statement comes after a paparazzi page shared a video of them stepping out of a restaurant in Mumbai and hinted that the two were romantically involved. This is also a day after Mouni Roy blasted the paparazzi for constantly filming her.
In an official statement, Arjun shared a strongly worded note addressing what he called "completely baseless stories" being circulated for clicks and views. Without naming any particular page, the actor criticised the growing trend of manufacturing romantic angles around friendships.
"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," he wrote.
Arjun stressed that people often stand by friends during difficult phases in life, and such gestures should not automatically be turned into relationship rumours.
"Sometimes, people simply show up for each other, especially when a friend is going through 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," he added.
Calling the reports disappointing, the actor further wrote, "It's disappointing to see certain pages publish completely baseless stories in the name of entertainment. Not every interaction between a man and a woman deserves to be twisted into a false narrative."
Arjun Bijlani concluded his statement by urging entertainment portals and social media pages to verify facts before posting speculative stories. "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."
Arjun's statement comes after actor Krystle D'Souza publicly reacted to a post attempting to link Mouni Roy and Arjun romantically.
Commenting on the post, Krystle didn't mince words. "What is this nonsense. Just for views you guys will post anything," she wrote, echoing Arjun's frustration over the spread of unverified gossip.
Her response quickly resonated with fans, many of whom praised both actors for speaking up against misleading headlines and baseless speculation surrounding celebrities' personal lives.
Arjun and Mouni have shared a close friendship for over 15 years and have worked together on multiple projects over the course of their careers. Their bond has often been visible through public appearances and social media interactions, making the recent rumours all the more surprising.
With both Arjun and Krystle now calling out the issue, the conversation has shifted from celebrity gossip to the responsibility of entertainment pages and paparazzi accounts in verifying information before publishing stories purely for engagement.
