Tiger Shroff on being linked with Disha Patani: Can’t friends go out for coffee ?

Tiger Shroff is a composed and self-assured actor, who has rarely been embroiled in controversies. But the constant link-up rumours with fellow actor Disha Patani leave him bothered at times, he says. “I know there is much buzz, awareness and speculation about what’s happening between us. But I want to ask that just because you are spotted with a girl by the paparazzi outside a restaurant, does it become a date? Can’t friends go for a chilled out time or to eat or have a coffee?” asks the actor, reacting to never-ending reports about their alleged romantic relationship.

Though he tries to “ignore” these rumours and speculation, he understands that he can only control them to a limit. But why has he never taken up the matter and clarified these rumours once and for all? Why doesn’t he rubbish the rumours with an announcement then? “As people under the limelight, this is only a part and parcel of our jobs. The reason I don’t want to shut up anyone or clarify anything about these reports is because I genuinely feel kisi ke pet par laat nahi marni chahiye (I don’t want to take someone’s bread-and-butter away (grins). People like to write things about us, it’s fine, maybe they get something out of it — money or some sort of pleasure. So, let them do their job while we focus on ours,” says Tiger, who was paired with Disha in his last release, Baaghi 2, earlier this year.

The actor admits that when such rumours catch attention, especially when two actors are doing a film together, it only ends up benefiting the film. “Imagine the kind of curiosity these rumours would have generated around our film’s release. People have always linked us up in real life, so they were more excited to see how we look as a reel-life couple,” he adds.

Asked if Disha and he ever talk about these rumours or do they just laugh the off, Tiger shares, “Honestly, we never discuss. I think most of the times it is rubbish and a bad PR stunt. At times, things being written are so nasty that whoever does it, should actually feel ashamed of their acts, because as actors, we are spreading positivity, love and want to touch as many people as possible through our work.”

Interact with Monika Rawal Kukreja at Twitter/@monikarawal