The long-running public feud between Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut has once again returned to the spotlight after a viral social media trend sparked fresh discussion about their nearly decade-old legal dispute.
What started as an Instagram post declaring that “the world owes an apology to Hrithik Roshan” quickly escalated into a new exchange between the two actors. Hrithik’s response to the trend, followed by Kangana’s strongly worded Instagram Story, has reignited conversations around one of Bollywood’s most talked-about controversies.
Kangana Ranaut is still obsessed with Hrithik Roshan. Girl has not moved on yet 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/pXGX94W9Eo pic.twitter.com/DneJC9urKi
— isHaHaHa (@hajarkagalwa) August 1, 2026
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The latest developments have also prompted social media users to revisit the legal battle and public statements that dominated headlines in 2016.
Hrithik Roshan Responds To Viral Post
The renewed debate began after author Freddy Birdy shared an Instagram post that read, “The world owes an apology to Hrithik Roshan.”
Reacting to the post, Hrithik appeared to distance himself from online narratives and urged people to rely on facts rather than social media sentiment before reaching conclusions.
“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 to it is the right one, and motivated by facts. That would be fair. But then again, who cares anymore right,” he wrote.
His remarks quickly gained traction online, with many interpreting them as a reference to his long-standing dispute with Kangana Ranaut.
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Kangana Ranaut Hits Back
Hours after Hrithik’s comment went viral, Kangana responded through her Instagram Stories, sharing a news report about his reaction before posting a lengthy note addressed to him.
In her statement, Kangana said she was pleased that Hrithik had found happiness with actor Saba Azad but urged him to discourage people who were allegedly trolling her in his name.
“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,” she wrote.
Her response added a new dimension to the online debate, drawing widespread reactions across social media platforms.
What Triggered The Viral Trend?
The latest round of discussion can be traced to Kangana’s recent remarks on student protests, which led to an online exchange with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das.
Responding to Kangana, Das joked that some of his friends believed she may have targeted him because he resembled a younger Hrithik Roshan.
“My friends told me, ‘You look like a young Hrithik Roshan. Maybe that’s why Kangana is attacking you,'” he said.
The comment quickly spread across social media, spawning memes and reviving discussions about Hrithik and Kangana’s past.
Soon afterwards, the phrase “We need to apologise to Hrithik Roshan” began trending, with many users revisiting the events of their public fallout.
Meme Sparks Fresh Speculation
Adding to the online buzz, Hrithik also became the subject of another viral claim after social media users alleged that he had liked an Instagram meme targeting Kangana.
According to screenshots shared by a Reddit user, Hrithik’s verified Instagram account had allegedly liked a meme that read, “Hrithik Bhai, you could’ve taken one for the team. Kyun khula chhod diya ise desh par?”
However, the original Instagram post was later deleted, and the alleged Instagram “like” could not be independently verified, leaving the claim unconfirmed.
A Feud That Began In 2016
Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut’s dispute first became public in 2016 after Kangana referred to Hrithik as her “silly ex” during a media interaction.
Hrithik denied that the two had ever been in a relationship, following which the disagreement escalated into a prolonged legal battle.
The dispute saw both actors exchange legal notices and issue public statements. Allegations involving emails and other communications also became part of the controversy, with each side maintaining its own version of events.
Although the matter gradually faded from daily headlines, it has continued to resurface periodically whenever either actor comments publicly or a related topic trends online.
Debate Continues Online
Nearly a decade after the controversy first unfolded, the latest exchange has once again brought Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut’s dispute back into public discussion.
While Hrithik has emphasised the importance of waiting for verified facts before drawing conclusions, Kangana has accused him of indirectly fuelling online trolling and reigniting an issue she believes should be left behind.
With social media amplifying every development, the renewed war of words has once again demonstrated how one of Bollywood’s most closely watched feuds continues to capture public attention years after it first began.
