Kangana v/s Hrithik: Who is responsible for this mess?

The whole world by now knows about the Hrithik-Roshan-Kangana Ranaut ‘fight’. What started off with her calling him as a ‘silly ex’ has now escalated to a denial filled with full-blown name-calling, e-mail leaking, legal battle. In between, we had other ‘silly exes’ give interviews about the actress’ being a witch and into voodoo among other things. After picking up her third National Award, Kangana quietly played the woman card on national TV and spoke about how she accepted all the name-calling but was being ‘targeted’.

So after nearly three months of this mud-slinging what have we learnt from this sordid mess? Frankly, much more than what we wanted to know or really cared for. On one hand, her alleged mail to Hrithik Roshan shows Kangana admitted to having Asperger’s Syndrome. So was she imagining this relationship? On the other, Adhyayan Suman (who seems to have jumped onto the bandwagon for a few minutes of sordid fame) is alleging that Kangana is abusive, a witch and indulges in black magic. Now Kangana has told Mumbai Mirror they never got the defamation notice sent by Hrithik which set this whole degrading ball rolling!

The fact is that anyone can have a relationship with whoever they please. What makes headlines is when they are two celebrities. However, in the Hrithik-Kangana case, there is evidently more than meets the naked eye. The public is not privy to the facts in toto and neither are all the journalists. It’s only Hrithik and Kangana who know exactly what happened between them and each of them is using this media-led fight to their advantage. Camps are being formed and sides being taken openly. Social media is going all out against one or the other depending on the statements made. So the blame for this mess is placed squarely on Hrithik and Kangana for getting their dirty laundry aired in public. This whole case is just a bad battle of bruised egos rather than focussed on a genuine issue. How can Hrithik put up with some nonsense being spouted by an actress? How can Kangana take on a powerful star in Bollywood? And so on and so forth.

In the midst of this ugly slandering, the media has taken centre stage by allocating reams of newsprint, air-time, and pages to the fight between the two stars. More time and energy is being wasted on this story than on issues which need dire attention. Many poor people may be dying of drought but it's the two stars, who earn crores and lead a luxurious life, that supposedly deserve maximum mileage.

In fact, one national level editor went a step further and commended Kangana on her bravery. Bravery? What bravery? Thousands of women are fighting far more serious issues than a defamation suit and yet this is considered 'brave'! Kangana is more outspoken as compared to any other Bollywood actress but that does not make her brave. She knows she is in a powerful position today where her movies sell and so does any statement she makes. How we wish this outspokenness was used to further the cause of women rather than herself. But then as she admitted on national TV, she is a 'self-pleaser', not a 'people pleaser'.

There have been many celebs who have dated and broken up in B-Town like Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan-Shahid Kapoor. Their relationships didn’t end with mudslinging and though there might be some initial discomfort, they are open to working with exes. In the Hrithik-Kangana case, it’s difficult to define their relationship because of the various allegations. But at the end of the day, both Hrithik and Kangana will go on with their lives and keep making movies that the audience will go watch and enjoy.

Right now, Kangana is off on holiday and Hrithik is busy shooting for his films. Meanwhile, it’s the public that’s sitting and wasting mind space on this ridiculous issue of no significance to anyone’s lives but two stars who couldn’t care less and have moved on. And who knows, in a few years’ time, Hrithik and Kangana may even be seen in a movie together and all this will seem just ‘silly’. So maybe it’s time for everyone else to move on.