Taika Waititi shares the sweet story behind his romance with Rita Ora

Director Taika Waititi has opened up about the story behind his romance with singer Rita Ora as the pair exchanged sweet love notes to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The 46-year-old filmmaker explained that the duo had been friends for years before their relationship took a romantic turn in 2021 while they were both living and working in Australia.

Posting a picture of the couple on the night they first met each other, Waititi wrote: “First photo the night we met four years ago. We've been mates ever since.

“Then a year ago we decided to "complicate" things but it just got easier. Happy Valentines Day to my bestie @ritaora”.

The New Zealander then added a gallery of images of himself and the hitmaker which he labelled: “Boyfriends of Instagram”.

Ora then went on to share an equally sweet message on her Instagram page as she also chose to post the picture from their first interaction.

Read more: Rita Ora still 'incredibly embarrassed’ over lockdown-breaking birthday bash

“Us. 4 years ago. To now. thanks for being cool. And entertaining me forevs..Happy Valentine’s Day bestie,” she wrote in the caption.

Indeed, Ora officially began dating the Thor: Ragnarok director while she was filming The Voice Australia in 2021.

In a recent interview with The Independent, the 'Body on Me' singer explained the romance came as a surprise: “I didn’t expect to find love in Australia, nor was I looking for it.”

The Poison hitmaker, who opened up about wanting to “have a nice big family”, also added she wants to keep her relationship out of the limelight and “protect it”.

The pair has made headlines in May after photos of a serious PDA session between them and actorTessa Thompson went viral. Thompson would later be spotted kissing model Zac Stenmark.

Waititi has since opened up about the photos and stated: "I think in the world of the internet, everything goes away pretty quick. And also, ‘Is it that big a deal?’ No, not really. I was doing nothing wrong. It’s fine.”

The pair were recently snapped at the Super Bowl in Los Angeles and have made rare appearances together at events such as the 2021 MTV European Music Awards.

Waititi has two children with his ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley, from whom he separated in 2018.

Watch: Are Rita Ora and Taika Waititi getting engaged?