Kangana Ranaut recently joined the ongoing trend of “2016 is the new 2026” on Instagram, leaving her fans ecstatic. She reflected on her journey a decade ago, and also talked about the controversial legal
battle with actor Hrithik Roshan. Although the conflict was effectively over within a year, the actress thanked God for the passage of time.
On Instagram, Kangana Ranaut dropped a series of throwback pictures, leaving fans nostalgic about her blockbuster movies from a decade earlier. FYI: The 33-year-old’s career-defining and commercially successful hits include Fashion (2008), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010), Krrish 3 (2013), Queen (2014), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015), Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), and others.
Kangana Ranaut Revisits Her ‘Miserable’ Phase In 2016
In the caption, Kangana Ranaut asked her social media fanbase, “Why is everyone missing 2016 suddenly?” and recalled the controversial legal battle between her and Hrithik Roshan.
She shared, “It was the inevitable ascent of my career trajectory, post back-to-back blockbusters like Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, I became the highest-paid actress,” adding, “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.”
Fast forward to now, both actors have let bygones be bygones. Kangana, however, revealed being thankful to the Almighty for the passage of time.
“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.
Take a look at the post here:
View this post on Instagram
Brief About Kangana Ranaut And Hrithik Roshan’s Controversy
In early 2016, the actor sent a legal notice to Kangana, demanding an apology for referring to him as her “silly ex” in an interview, sparking much speculation about their romantic involvement. He also alleged that she had been harassing him with hundreds of emails.
Kangana, then, responded with a 21-page counter-notice, alleging that Hrithik was intimidating her. The legal, public battle went on for months, dividing Bollywood celebrities into two sides. Finally, a cybercrime investigation cooled down the situation by November 2016.
Kangana Ranaut’s Recent And Upcoming Works
In 2025, she appeared in Emergency, a historical biographical drama film that she directed and co-produced. She played the role of Indira Gandhi in the movie, based on a screenplay by Ritesh Shah on the Indian Emergency from 1975 to 1977.
Looking ahead, she has an untitled psychological thriller and a movie titled Bharatha Bhhagya Vidhata in her pipeline.
