Nearly a decade after their public fallout first dominated Bollywood headlines, Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut's long-running dispute has returned to the spotlight. A viral "Sorry Hrithik" trend has introduced the controversy to a new generation of social media users, while fresh comments from both actors have reignited debate. Here's a detailed timeline of one of Hindi cinema's most discussed public feuds.
2013: Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut reunite in Krrish 3
Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut shared screen space in Krrish 3, released in November 2013. They had previously appeared together in Kites (2010), although they did not share significant screen time in that film.
Following Krrish 3, rumours linking the two actors began circulating in sections of the entertainment media. Neither publicly confirmed nor addressed the speculation at the time.
Years later, speculation about their relationship became central to one of Bollywood's longest-running public disputes.
January 2016: Kangana's 'silly ex' remark sparks a public row
In January 2016, during an interview discussing reports that she had been dropped from Aashiqui 3, Kangana referred to an unnamed "silly ex", saying:
"I don't know why exes do silly things to get your attention."
Although she did not mention Hrithik by name, the remark was widely reported as referring to him.
The comment immediately attracted widespread media attention and marked the beginning of a public exchange between the two actors.
Hrithik Roshan publicly denies the claim
Soon afterwards, Hrithik rejected suggestions that the two had been in a relationship.
In a post on social media, he wrote that there was a greater chance of him having had an affair with "the Pope" than with the women he had been linked to by the media.
The statement made headlines across India and transformed what had been industry speculation into a high-profile public dispute.
February 2016: Legal notices are exchanged
Following Kangana's remarks, Hrithik sent her a legal notice seeking a public apology and withdrawal of the statement.
Kangana declined to apologise and responded with a legal notice of her own through her legal team.
The disagreement soon moved beyond interviews and social media, becoming a legal matter that dominated entertainment news for months.
The alleged email exchanges become central to the dispute
As the legal battle intensified, attention shifted to a series of emails allegedly exchanged between the two actors.
Hrithik maintained that emails attributed to him had originated from an account he did not control and alleged that someone had impersonated him.
Kangana, meanwhile, continued to stand by her account of the events, including her claim that they had been in a relationship.
The disputed emails later became a key part of the police investigation.
October 2016: Hrithik Roshan releases a detailed public statement
On 5 October 2016, Hrithik published a lengthy statement on Facebook addressing the controversy.
He questioned how an alleged long-term relationship between two public figures could have existed without photographs, independent witnesses or other evidence becoming public. He also referred to his passport records while disputing claims relating to an alleged engagement in Paris.
The statement received extensive media coverage and became one of the most widely discussed developments in the dispute.
2016–2020: The investigation continues
The matter was investigated by Mumbai Police's Cyber Cell before later 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.
Throughout this period, both actors continued to maintain their respective positions publicly, while the legal proceedings remained ongoing.
February 2021: Hrithik records his statement
Nearly five years after the complaint was filed, Hrithik appeared before the Mumbai Crime Branch to record his statement in connection with the investigation.
The development brought renewed attention to the years-old dispute, although neither actor significantly altered their public position on the matter.
2023: Mumbai Police files a closure report
In December 2023, Mumbai Police filed a closure report before a magistrate's court in connection with Hrithik Roshan's complaint relating to the alleged email account that had been central to the investigation.
The closure report marked the end of the police investigation into Hrithik Roshan's complaint regarding the alleged email account. It did not determine the differing claims made by the two actors regarding their alleged relationship. Both actors have continued to stand by their respective versions of events, and the long-running public disagreement has remained unresolved.
January 2026: Kangana Ranaut revisits the controversy
Nearly 10 years after the dispute began, Kangana revisited the episode while participating in the viral "2026 is the new 2016" trend on Instagram.
Without directly naming Hrithik in her initial post, she reflected on what she described as one of the most challenging periods of her career. She recalled receiving a legal notice in 2016 and said the controversy led to years of public scrutiny and legal proceedings.
Kangana wrote that she was grateful to have moved on from that phase of her life, although the post once again brought the decade-old controversy back into public discussion.
How the 'Sorry Hrithik' trend began
In late July and early August 2026, the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy resurfaced after Kangana's remarks about the CJP-led student protests generated widespread criticism online.
During the exchange, Kangana criticised CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and questioned his credentials. Responding in an interview, Das said his friends had joked that he resembled a young Hrithik Roshan and wondered why Kangana had singled him out.
The remark quickly gained traction across social media, prompting many social media users to revisit Hrithik and Kangana's 2016 dispute. Soon afterwards, posts carrying messages such as "We Need to Apologise to Hrithik Roshan" and #SorryHrithik began trending across X, Instagram and Reddit.
Many users argued that revisiting old interviews, legal developments and public statements had changed their perception of the controversy. Others maintained that the dispute remained contested and cautioned against drawing conclusions based solely on changing public opinion. As a result, the trend became one of the most discussed entertainment topics online.
Hrithik Roshan responds to the viral campaign
As the campaign gained momentum, author and columnist Freddy Birdy shared an Instagram post stating, "The world owes an apology to Hrithik Roshan."
Hrithik responded in the comments but distanced himself from the growing narrative. Instead of endorsing the campaign, he urged people not to choose sides simply because public opinion had shifted.
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."
His response was widely shared, with many praising his decision to call for facts rather than encouraging the online campaign.
Kangana Ranaut hits back
Hours later, Kangana responded through Instagram Stories after reports of Hrithik's comment circulated online.
She accused the actor of "adding fuel to the fire" and urged him not to make what she described as unreasonable remarks that could reignite the controversy.
Kangana also said that instead of reacting to the trend, Hrithik should discourage people from targeting her in his name. Her response ensured the decade-old dispute once again dominated entertainment headlines.
Why Gen-Z is discussing the controversy now
For many younger social media users, the "Sorry Hrithik" campaign was their first introduction to the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut dispute.
Unlike audiences who followed the controversy in 2016, many Gen-Z users encountered it through viral clips, archived interviews and social media threads explaining the events. As old legal notices, interviews and public statements resurfaced online, the controversy found a new audience nearly a decade after it first unfolded.
Nearly a decade after it first dominated headlines, the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy continues to generate discussion online, with the recent "Sorry Hrithik" trend introducing the dispute to a new generation of social media users.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Why is 'Sorry Hrithik' trending?
The #SorryHrithik trend went viral after social media users revisited the decade-old Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy following recent online discussions involving Kangana Ranaut. Many users shared old interviews and legal developments, while Hrithik and Kangana later responded to the renewed debate.
What is the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy?
The controversy began in 2016 after Kangana Ranaut referred to Hrithik Roshan as her "silly ex" during an interview. Hrithik denied they had ever been in a relationship, and the disagreement later involved legal notices, disputed email allegations and a police investigation.
Did Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut date?
Hrithik Roshan has consistently denied being in a relationship with Kangana Ranaut. Kangana Ranaut has maintained that they were involved. The differing accounts have never been publicly resolved, and both continue to stand by their respective versions.
Why did Hrithik Roshan send Kangana Ranaut a legal notice?
Hrithik Roshan sent Kangana Ranaut a legal notice in 2016 after she referred to him as her "silly ex" during an interview. He sought an apology, while Kangana responded with a legal notice through her legal team.
What did Hrithik Roshan say about the 'Sorry Hrithik' trend?
Hrithik Roshan said people should not take sides simply because public opinion has changed. He added that discussions should be "motivated by facts" rather than online sentiment.
How did Kangana Ranaut respond to Hrithik Roshan?
Kangana Ranaut accused Hrithik Roshan of "adding fuel to the fire" and urged him not to reignite the controversy. She also said he should discourage people from targeting her in his name.
What was the outcome of the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut case?
The police investigation into Hrithik Roshan's complaint regarding the alleged email account concluded with a closure report. However, the investigation did not resolve the differing claims made by the two actors regarding their alleged relationship.
When did the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy start?
The public dispute began in January 2016, although Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut had worked together earlier in Krrish 3 (2013).
Who started the 'Sorry Hrithik' trend?
The exact origin of the #SorryHrithik trend is unclear. It gained momentum after social media users revisited the Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy following recent online discussions involving Kangana Ranaut and CJP spokesperson Saurav Das.
Why are people saying 'Sorry Hrithik'?
People using #SorryHrithik argue that revisiting the decade-old Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut controversy has changed their view of the dispute. However, others note that the matter remains contested and that both actors continue to stand by their respective versions.
What is the 'silly ex' remark?
The "silly ex" remark refers to Kangana Ranaut's 2016 interview in which she described an unnamed "silly ex". The comment was widely understood to refer to Hrithik Roshan and became the trigger for their public dispute.
