Kangana Ranaut Hints At Hrithik Roshan's ‘Controversial Legal Notice’ From 2016: Life Became A Living Hell

Summary of this article

• Kangana Ranaut has joined the ‘2026 Is The New 2016’ trend and recalled the 'miserable' phase of her life.
• Without naming Hrithik Roshan directly, Ranaut referred to receiving a controversial legal notice from a "colleague".
• She also called 2016 the best phase of her career.

Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has joined the ongoing trend of “2016 is the new 2026". In her post, she reflected on her Bollywood career and opened up about the controversial legal battle with actor Hrithik Roshan (without mentioning his name). She thanked God that the turbulent phase had now passed.

Kangana Ranaut reflects on her ‘miserable’ phase in 2016

On Saturday, taking to her Instagram handle, Kangana shared a string of throwback pics and asked her followers, "Why is everyone missing 2016 suddenly?" and recalled the infamous legal feud between her and Hrithik.

Kangana called 2016 the "inevitable ascent" of her career trajectory, as she delivered back-to-back blockbusters like Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, which made her the "highest-paid actress."

Referring to the legal battle, Ranaut wrote, "But then in January of 2016, one of my colleagues sent me that controversial legal notice, which shook and divided the industry into insiders and outsiders. Success became poisonous, and life became a living hell. Sides were taken, and many more legal battles followed."

This period marked a sharp shift in how Kangana was perceived within the film industry. Public debates, media trials, and strong opinions flooded news cycles. What began as a personal dispute soon became a larger conversation about power dynamics, credibility, and the treatment of outsiders in Bollywood.

"Ten years ago, had I known in 2026 I will be eating carbs in all my meals, will be laughing a lot, and none of the 2016 drama would mean anything to anyone a few years down the line, honestly, I would have not been so miserable back then. Thank God it’s not 2016 and we are in 2026," she concluded her post.

Her closing words struck a chord with many followers, especially those who have lived through difficult chapters of their own lives. The message was clear. Time changes perspective. What once feels unbearable often fades into a lesson rather than a wound.

About Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan's legal battle

To those unaware, in a 2016 interview, Kangana had referred to Hrithik Roshan as her "silly ex". Later, Hrithik, in a tweet, claimed that he was never in a relationship with Kangana.

He sent a legal notice to Ranaut, asking her to apologise for her remark. Following this, the latter sent a counter-notice to Hrithik. This followed leaked emails, cybercrime complaints and forensic investigations, which resulted in a long battle, but finally it ended after the Mumbai Police cybercrime unit submitted a “NIL report”.

The case became one of the most talked about celebrity disputes in India. It raised questions about privacy, media ethics, and how legal conflicts play out under constant public scrutiny. Even years later, it continues to be referenced as an example of how personal matters can spiral in the digital age.

Kangana Ranaut's work front

Kangana was last seen in 2025's Emergency, in which she acted, apart from directing and co-producing it. She played the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Next up for her is Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata.

Today, Kangana balances multiple roles as an actor, filmmaker, and politician. Her journey from controversy to reflection shows a shift toward acceptance and distance from past conflicts. While 2016 may remain a defining year, 2026, as she suggests, is about peace, clarity, and moving forward.

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