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Nearly a decade after Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut’s public fallout dominated headlines, their controversial feud has once again become a talking point online.
The renewed interest in the 2016 controversy began after Kangana Ranaut’s recent remarks on the CJP-led student protests led to a social media exchange, where Hrithik Roshan’s name was brought into the conversation. Soon, hashtags like #SorryHrithik started trending, old interviews resurfaced and both actors reacted publicly, prompting fans to revisit one of Bollywood’s longest-running controversies.
But what exactly happened between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut? Here is a complete timeline of the decade-old feud.
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Why Is Hrithik Roshan And Kangana Ranaut’s Controversy Trending Again?
The latest chapter of the Hrithik-Kangana controversy began after Kangana’s remarks on the CJP-led student protests sparked an online discussion.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das responded to Kangana’s comments and made a reference to Hrithik Roshan, saying, “My friends told me, ‘You look like a young Hrithik Roshan. Maybe that’s why Kangana is attacking you.’”
The comment quickly went viral, bringing back memories of Kangana and Hrithik’s 2016 feud.
Soon, social media users started sharing posts with the phrase “We Need to Apologise to Hrithik Roshan”, while hashtags like #SorryHrithik began trending across platforms including X, Instagram and Reddit.
Author Freddy Birdy also shared a post stating, “The world owes an apology to Hrithik Roshan.”
Hrithik responded to the post but clarified that he did not want to encourage taking sides without context.
He wrote, “My friend, siding with ‘A’ just because you don’t like ‘B’ anymore is a small part of the larger systemic issue plaguing our society. I’ll wait for when the context is the right one, and motivated by facts.”
Following Hrithik’s comment, Kangana shared a report about his response on her Instagram Stories and reacted to it.
She wrote, “Dear Hrithik I am happy that you have found your perfect match, Saba Azad and you both look great together, you are in a committed relationship and it doesn’t suit you to tease a woman like this, instead you should condemn all those who are harassing and bullying me using your name, stop adding fuel to fire and embarrassing your partner, hope better sense prevails and you stop making unreasonable comments (sic).”
When Did Hrithik Roshan And Kangana Ranaut’s Controversy Begin?
Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut first worked together in Kites (2010) and later reunited for Krrish 3 (2013). After the release of Krrish 3, rumours about the two actors being romantically linked started circulating. However, neither Hrithik nor Kangana publicly addressed the speculation at that time.
What Did Kangana Ranaut Say About Her “Silly Ex”?
In January 2016, while discussing reports that she had been dropped from Aashiqui 3, Kangana Ranaut spoke about an unnamed ex during an interview with Pinkvilla.
She said, “I don’t know why exes do silly things to get your attention.” Although Kangana did not mention Hrithik Roshan’s name, the comment was widely interpreted as referring to him and soon became a major talking point.
How Did Hrithik Roshan Respond To Kangana Ranaut’s Comment?
Hrithik Roshan denied that he and Kangana Ranaut had ever been in a relationship.
Responding to the reports, Hrithik wrote on social media, “There are more chances of me having had an affair with the Pope than any of the (I’m sure wonderful) women the media has been naming. Thanks but no thanks.”
The actor maintained that the claims linking him romantically with Kangana were untrue.
Why Did Hrithik Roshan Send A Legal Notice To Kangana Ranaut?
Following the public exchange, Hrithik Roshan sent Kangana Ranaut a legal notice asking her to apologise and withdraw her comments. Kangana refused to apologise and responded with a legal notice of her own through her lawyers.
The controversy soon moved beyond interviews and social media, turning into a legal battle involving allegations from both sides.
What Was The Hrithik Roshan And Kangana Ranaut Email Controversy?
One of the biggest points of discussion during the dispute was the alleged exchange of emails between Hrithik and Kangana. Hrithik claimed that emails attributed to him were sent from an account that he did not control and alleged that someone had impersonated him.
Kangana, meanwhile, continued to maintain that she and Hrithik had been in a relationship and stood by her version of events. The disputed emails later became an important part of the police investigation.
What Did Hrithik Roshan Say In His Detailed Statement?
Hrithik Roshan later shared a detailed Facebook post explaining his side of the controversy. In his statement, he questioned how an alleged long-term relationship between two celebrities could have remained hidden without photographs, independent witnesses or other evidence.
He also referred to his passport records while denying claims related to an alleged engagement in Paris.
What Happened During The Police Investigation?
The case was initially investigated by the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell before being transferred to the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Investigators examined digital evidence, including the disputed emails and electronic devices submitted during the investigation.
Nearly five years after filing his complaint, Hrithik appeared before the Mumbai Crime Branch to record his statement.
Throughout the investigation, both Hrithik and Kangana continued to stand by their respective versions of events.
Did The Hrithik Roshan And Kangana Ranaut Case End?
In December 2023, Mumbai Police submitted a closure report before a magistrate’s court regarding Hrithik’s complaint about the alleged email account.
The closure report ended the police investigation into that particular complaint. However, it did not resolve the conflicting claims made by Hrithik and Kangana about their alleged relationship.
Why Did Kangana Ranaut Recall The Hrithik Controversy In 2026?
Earlier in 2026, Kangana Ranaut participated in the viral “2026 is the new 2016” trend on Instagram. While reflecting on the year, she described 2016 as one of the most difficult phases of her life.
She recalled receiving a legal notice and spoke about the years of legal proceedings and public scrutiny that followed.
Nearly 10 years later, both actors have moved ahead with their careers. Hrithik Roshan continues to be one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, while Kangana Ranaut has expanded her career into politics along with acting.