Jussie Smollett‘s always cool with Lee Daniels … saying he appreciates the director giving him his big break — and, he’d rather keep their relationship private.

We caught up with the embattled actor in New York City Friday outside a movie theater on the same day “The Lost Holliday” — a project JS directed — received it’s wide release … and, we had to ask about Daniels’ recent comments about him.

Jussie says he’s got a lot of love for LD … admitting he appreciates the opprotunity Lee gave him — his starring role on “Empire” — and, he doesn’t like to talk about their relationship publicly ’cause it’s so special to him.

Smollett says he doesn’t feel the need to mediate their relationship in the press … though he understands Daniels speaking out on it publicly — saying Lee’s always been an outspoken guy.

When asked if he and Daniels are good, Smollett replies saying they’re always going to be good — no matter what’s said.

ICYMI … Lee recently told Charlemagne Tha God on “The Breakfast Club” that his relationship with Smollett is “complicated” — admitting he doesn’t know what to think about Jussie’s hate crime hoax case.

That said, Daniels revealed he’d cast him again … though it doesn’t sounds like they’re teaming up anytime soon.

Jussie also talks about his relationship with castmates in the clip … saying he needed to address certain topics to keep things comfortable on set — before adding everyone he works with knows his character.

His aunt, Vivica A. Fox, recently told us “The Lost Holliday” will be Jussie’s comeback flick … and, he just needed to do the work to show people who he is. Sounds like he tried to do just that.