Kangana Ranaut hits back at Hrithik Roshan over Gen Z backlash row
Synopsis
A Gen Z controversy involving Kangana Ranaut has unexpectedly dragged Hrithik Roshan back into the public conversation — and this time Kangana is telling him to stay out of it. Her pointed social media post, invoking his relationship with Saba Azad, signals the pair's 2016 shadow still looms large over both their public images.
Key Takeaways
Kangana Ranaut publicly addressed Hrithik Roshan on social media on 1 August , urging him to stop 'adding fuel to the fire.' The row stems from online backlash over Kangana's Gen Z remarks , during which Hrithik's name was invoked by critics.
Saurav Das of CJP sparked the 'We need to apologise to Hrithik' trend after claiming friends said he resembled a younger Hrithik.
Hrithik commented on a Freddy Birdy post on Saturday , warning against siding with one person simply out of dislike for another.
Kangana's post referenced Hrithik's relationship with Saba Azad , calling his comment unbecoming of someone in a committed relationship.
The dispute revives public memory of the pair's high-profile 2016 legal battle.
Actress Kangana Ranaut took to social media on 1 August to publicly respond to Hrithik Roshan after he weighed in on the viral 'We need to apologise to Hrithik Roshan' trend, which resurfaced amid the ongoing online backlash against Kangana following her controversial remarks about Gen Z. The exchange has reignited public attention on the pair's long-running public dispute, which dates to a high-profile 2016 legal battle.
What Kangana Said
In her post, Kangana addressed Hrithik directly, pointing to his relationship with Saba Azad and arguing that his comment was inappropriate given his personal circumstances. 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 the fire and embarrassing your partner. I hope better sense prevails and you stop making unreasonable comments.'
How the Trend Started
The viral moment traces back to Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) activist Saurav Das, who took a dig at Kangana after she targeted him online. Das remarked that friends had told him he resembled a younger Hrithik Roshan, adding: 'Why should someone like her attack someone like me?' His comment sparked the apologise-to-Hrithik trend on social media, drawing a direct parallel to the 2016 legal dispute between Hrithik and Kangana.
Hrithik's Response
On Saturday, social media personality Freddy Birdy published a post on the matter, prompting Hrithik to comment. Without naming anyone, Hrithik wrote: 'My friend, siding with 'A' just cause 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. I'll wait. But then again, who cares anymore right?' The comment was widely read as a veiled reference to the ongoing controversy.
Background and Context
The current spat is rooted in Kangana's remarks about Gen Z, which drew significant online criticism. Critics then invoked Hrithik's name — referencing their bitter 2016 public and legal fallout — to amplify the backlash against her. Notably, this is not the first time social media has used the Hrithik-Kangana history as a lens through which to assess Kangana's public conduct. Kangana's latest post signals she is unwilling to let the references go unchallenged, framing Hrithik's comment as unnecessary provocation rather than neutral observation.
What to Watch
With both parties having now made public statements, the exchange is likely to draw further reactions from within Bollywood and online communities. Whether Hrithik responds again or the controversy subsides will depend largely on how the broader backlash against Kangana's Gen Z remarks evolves in the coming days.
Point of View
Ready to be reactivated whenever either name enters a controversy. Hrithik's carefully worded non-comment is itself a form of commentary, and Kangana's decision to respond publicly rather than ignore it suggests she calculates that silence costs more than engagement. The real story here is not who said what, but how a Gen Z remark spiralled into a revival of one of Bollywood's most bitter feuds — and why that revival was so effortless.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kangana Ranaut respond to Hrithik Roshan on social media?
Kangana responded after Hrithik commented on a post related to the 'We need to apologise to Hrithik' trend, which emerged from the online backlash against her Gen Z remarks. She told him his comment was inappropriate given his relationship with Saba Azad and urged him to instead condemn those using his name to bully her.
What is the 'We need to apologise to Hrithik' trend?
The trend was sparked when CJP activist Saurav Das, targeted online by Kangana, noted that friends had compared his looks to a younger Hrithik Roshan. Social media users then invoked the trend as a callback to the infamous 2016 legal dispute between Hrithik and Kangana.
What did Hrithik Roshan actually say?
Hrithik commented on a Freddy Birdy post on Saturday, writing that siding with one person simply because you dislike another is part of a 'larger systemic issue.' He did not name anyone but said he would wait for the right context, motivated by facts.
What is the history between Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan?
The two were embroiled in a very public and acrimonious legal dispute in 2016, involving allegations and counter-allegations that played out extensively in the media. The fallout has continued to resurface whenever either figure enters a public controversy.
Who is Saba Azad and why is she mentioned?
Saba Azad is Hrithik Roshan's partner. Kangana referenced their relationship in her post to argue that it was unbecoming of Hrithik — as someone in a committed relationship — to comment in a way she characterised as 'teasing' her.
