Kangana Ranaut told actor Hrithik Roshan to stop "adding fuel to the fire" following a viral social media trend targeting her.

The dispute highlights the volatility of celebrity conflicts in India, where social media memes can trigger widespread online harassment and targeted trolling campaigns.

The tension escalated after a viral trend emerged demanding that the world owe an apology to Roshan. Ranaut posted an Instagram story on Aug. 1 [1] addressing the situation. She said, "Stop adding fuel to the fire. Please condemn those using your name to target me" [1].

Ranaut accused Roshan of encouraging trolls to target her through his reactions to the trend. In a separate swipe on Aug. 2, she said, "You're embarrassing your partner" [2].

Reports on Roshan's specific reaction to the meme vary. Some sources indicate he reacted to the "world owes an apology to Hrithik" trend [1], while others state he distanced himself from the meme and called for facts [3]. Roshan responded to the ongoing row on Aug. 2 [3]. He said, "I'll wait when the context is right" [3].

Ranaut's comments also mentioned Saba Azad, Roshan's partner, as part of her criticism regarding the public nature of the dispute [1]. The exchange follows years of intermittent public conflict between the two actors regarding their past professional, and personal relationship.

“"Stop adding fuel to the fire. Please condemn those using your name to target me."”

This exchange underscores the role of 'stan culture' and algorithmic trends in reviving dormant celebrity disputes. By reacting to a meme, even ambiguously, a public figure can inadvertently signal approval to aggressive fan bases, transforming a personal disagreement into a coordinated harassment campaign.