Snehashish roy
Actor Arjun Bijlani has dismissed recent dating rumours linking him to his longtime friend and former Naagin co-star Mouni Roy, calling the speculation baseless and questioning why a simple dinner outing has been given a romantic angle. The actor also came out strongly in defence of Mouni, claiming that someone has been repeatedly attempting to tarnish her image.
The rumours surfaced after Arjun and Mouni were spotted together at a dinner outing in Mumbai. Their appearance together quickly became fodder for speculation on social media, with some reports suggesting that the two actors were romantically involved.
Arjun, however, said there was nothing unusual about the outing. Speaking to Telly Talk India, he explained that he and Mouni have gone out for dinners numerous times, often as part of a larger group of friends.
“If seven or eight people are going for dinner, it’s not like we are going for the first time,” Arjun said, explaining that he and Mouni had previously met and spent time together on several occasions. He questioned why their latest outing was being presented as something significant.
The actor initially chose to ignore the reports but changed his mind after friends publicly reacted to the speculation. He said actress Krystle D’Souza, who knows both him and Mouni, had called the report “nonsense”. Arjun felt that since people close to them were speaking out, remaining silent would be unfair to Mouni.
He then shifted the focus from the dating rumours to what he described as a broader attempt to damage Mouni’s reputation.
“I feel that for quite some time now, someone or the other has been trying to defame Mouni,” Arjun said, adding that he did not know who was behind it. He claimed that rumours had previously questioned Mouni’s sexuality and later made allegations about her drinking habits.
Arjun dismissed such speculation as unnecessary, pointing out that celebrities, like anyone else, are entitled to socialise and enjoy themselves. He said attending parties or spending time with friends should not automatically lead to questions about a person’s character.
The actor also stressed that his relationship with Mouni is one of friendship. The two first worked together on Ektaa Kapoor’s popular television series Naagin, where they developed a close bond. Their friendship has continued despite both actors moving on to different professional projects.
The latest rumours come at a particularly sensitive time for Mouni, whose personal life has recently attracted increased public attention following reports about her separation from businessman Suraj Nambiar. The increased scrutiny has led to speculation about her relationships and private life.
Arjun’s comments therefore appear to be aimed not only at denying the dating reports but also at asking the media and social media users to exercise greater restraint when discussing Mouni’s personal life.
The actor also pointed out that he has a family of his own and suggested that such rumours can have consequences beyond the celebrities directly involved. Arjun has been married to Neha Swami since 2013 and the couple have a son.