In a strange move, Hrithik Roshan sent a legal notice to Kangana Ranaut for "defaming" him; refusing to cower down, the actress hits back.

The tiff between Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut plumbed new depths on Tuesday, with the former sending a legal notice demanding a public apology for defaming him and the latter responding in kind with a 22-page missive of her own.

The two were rumoured to have been a number, and differences surfaced when they slammed each other in public in January, albeit without naming each other. Hrithik's notice, however, seems to refer to the January interview where Kangana said, "I don't know why exes do silly things to get your attention." Sources said the legal notice, sent on February 26 through advocate Dipesh Mehta, alleges that Kangana is trying to create an image in the film industry, print and social media of her and Hrithik having had a relationship. Hrithik's side alleges that there was no such relationship and that she has been trying to propagate false ideas to gain cheap publicity.

Source close to Hrithik suggest that the controversy erupted on May 24, 2014, when they met at Karan Johar's birthday party. Kangana approached Hrithik and thanked him for appreciating her work in 'Queen' (2014) for which she had won a National Award. Hrithik said he had never congratulated her and nor has he seen her movie.


Hrithik's side says he informed Kangana that there has been some misunderstanding and that the email id hroshan@email.com from which Kangana had been getting mails was that of an impersonator. Hrithik, in fact, also informed that he interacts with friends, celebrities and fans only through his personal id hroshan@***.com.

Incidentally, Hrithik had, in December 2014, registered a complaint with the Juhu police and the Cyber Crime Cell against an unidentified person who is impersonating him and chatting on his behalf with people.

Hrithik has apparently claimed that even after he had clarified he had never conversed with Kangana, she began sending emails to his original email id. Sources alleged Kangana had sent "titillating, absurd and senseless photographs and videos to Hrithik's original email id."

It has also been claimed that Kangana has been sending an average of around 50 e-mails a day and a total of 1439 mails. Sources claimed Hrithik had not replied to even a single mail from Kangana.

They said the actress had called his father Rakesh Roshan and advised him to handle his son who she alleged has been chasing her through mails and other mediums.

The actor has also said that Kangana, in a drunken state during the shoot of Krrish 3 in Jordan, created a ruckus demanding to meet Hrithik on the sets. Later, as she sobered down, her sister Rangoli apologised for her behaviour, sources said. She too apologised.

Sources claim there was no "personal, social, platonic or intimate relationship between Hrithik and Kangana." Hrithik has alleged that Kangana has been trying to "exploit his popularity, fan following, goodwill to gain publicity."

He alleged that she has been making "cheap, embarrassing, false and misleading statements in the media." Hrithik had given Kangana seven days' time to hold a press conference and tender an apology. Advocate Mehta refused to comment.

On receiving this four-page notice, Kangana responded with a 21-page missive of her own on March 3, asking for a reply within seven days. She has accused him of spreading "bogus, false, misleading and blatant lies." According to her side, at Karan Johar's birthday party, when Hrithik told her that he had not been the one with whom Kangana has been conversing, she felt cheated and hurt.

Sources said that as per Kangana, Hrithik's claim was ridiculous as it was he who had shared those email ids with her.

Kangana alleged that she has done two movies - Kites (2010) and Krishh 3 (2013) and their affair has been on public domain. They have been very close to each other and also sent personal invitations to each other on their respective birthday parties. Since Hrithik was married then, he had visited Kangana's party with his entire family i.e., his wife Sussanne and two kids. In return, Kangana attended Hrithik's party with her sister Rangoli in tow. This, Kangana's side claims, is more than enough to prove that there was a personal relationship between the two.


Kangana has alleged Hrithik "took advantage of his impending divorce to play with her emotions." Justifying why she sent personal videos and photographs, Kangana's side alleged that if she has been sending such mails in bulk it was because the two were in a relationship.

About Hrithik's allegations that she was seeking cheap publicity out of this episode, Kangana's side said that "in her 10-year career she has done lots of films, has gained enough publicity which has made her one of the highest paid actors that had bagged her several awards till date."

Many ups and downs
Except for stray rumours and a whiff of gossip in between, the couple had largely been successful in keeping their association hidden and away from the glare. The couple reportedly started out as friends, after meeting for the first time on the sets of Kites (2010). Hrithik was rumoured to be involved with Barbara Mori, the other star in the film, at that time and this led to some tension between him and his wife, Sussanne. It was during this time that Kangana and Hrithik were said to have come closer as friends and gradually went on to become special friends.

Apparently, after three years of blissful togetherness, the couple started having issues. But then they shared such a passionate relationship that it was not easy for either of them to let go too easily. So, despite the differences and bitter fights, the two kept getting back to each other after brief spells of separation.

However, what the two of them probably hadn't been prepared for was their love secret spilling out the way it did in January this year .

Apparently stating that he's a big celebrity with close to 14 million Twitter followers and many hit films to his credit, Hrithik's lawyers have demanded that Kangana give him due respect and stop maligning his name, since they shared a strictly professional relationship. Amusingly, contradicting his own claim, the notice apparently also mentions that if she doesn't apologise, Hrithik will be forced to reveal the private communication that she's had with him over the years.

Kangana has clearly said in her response that she never mentioned anybody's name in her interviews, so the question of defaming him or her apologising publicly doesn't arise. Also, her notice says that she doesn't need publicity using Hrithik's name because she is a celebrity herself with two National Awards among other achievements and honours under her belt.

Sources close to the couple say that it would be difficult for Hrithik to prove that they have not had a personal relationship as Kangana was very much part of his life, and she was a key person in making arrangements for Hrithik's sister's 41st birthday party and his dad's 60th birthday bash. She was also seen at the Roshan home on several other occasions.

According to sources, this could be Hrithik's way of getting back at her and forcing her back into a relationship that she is trying to move on from. Or it could be his way of shunting her out of his life for good. He might have not expected Kangana to respond by slapping a fatter legal notice on him. Sources say he now plans to hold a press conference to put his point across.


Whatever it is, it sure is sad that a friendship ended up so bitter in the course of six years. Kangana and Hrithik were unavailable for comment while the actress' lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee refused to speak on the issue.

From special friends to sworn enemies
>> October 2014: Kangana Ranaut, in an interview, speaks about a new man in her life without revealing his name. "My love life is exciting. When you are in love, you kind of have to be sure about things that you make public. I hope it works out... Love is such a thing; it's so special, so I hope I get in a position of talking about it in public."

>> December 2014: Reports stating Hrithik Roshan is Kangana's mystery man start doing the rounds. Rumour mills suggest they have become serious about each other after being friends for seven years and working together in Kites (2010) and Krrish 3 (2013).

The actor, on his part, plays down the buzz by tweeting: "This is so absurd it doesn't even get me angry. Are these papers and writers just plain delusional? Price of being single I guess. But I'm not paying. Unless it's for the shrink who I think these journos need (sic)."

>> October 2015: Kangana and Hrithik apparently avoid each other at a film festival, giving fresh ammunition to gossip mongers. However, industry sources claimed it was a ploy to throw off people writing about his secret liaisons with Kangana. "They have decided to take it easy in public, as Hrithik is currently going through a complicated divorce proceeding. If shown to be in a relationship so soon after his separation from his wife then he would end up looking like a bad father. He has asked his PR team to go slow on the single-ready-to-mingle image," a source said.

When asked about the alleged affair, Hrithik reportedly said, "Oh my God! What should I say about it?"

About a month ago, Kangana had also denied the rumours while promoting Queen as she said, "I don't have anyone in my life as of now. I am single but I am not open to dating because I am committed to my films and roles. Relationship is a lot of work."

>> January 2016: Hrithik tweets, "Ther r more chances of me having had an affair with d Pope dan any of d (Im sure wonderful)women d media hs ben naming. Thanks but no thanks. (sic)" after the media goes into a tizzy over Kangana subtly referring to him as an ex during an interview. Asked for her reaction on being ousted from Aashiqui 3 which apparently features Hrithik, she had said, "Yes, many lame rumours are doing the rounds, even a dumb ass can tell where these rumours are coming from. I don't know why exes do silly things to get your attention. For me that chapter is over and I don't dig graves."