By Ayesha Khan 
Mumbai, January 7: What started as a few holiday photos from Kartik Aaryan’s New Year break in Goa has now turned into an uncomfortable reminder of how fast rumours travel online and how little control people have once speculation takes over.
Within days, the actor found himself linked to 17-year-old Karina Kubiliute, a Greek student based in the UK, setting off a wave of chatter that quickly crossed from curiosity into something far more intrusive.
There was no official announcement. No public appearance. No confirmation of any sort. Just assumptions built on photos, screenshots, and internet guesswork.
Where The Rumours Really Began
The story did not come from a film set or a party sighting. It began quietly on Reddit, where users noticed similarities between pictures posted separately by Kartik and Karina around the same time.
Kartik is vacationing in Goa with this girl
byu/LazyLooming inBollyBlindsNGossip
A beach that looked familiar. A sunset angle that seemed similar. The timing of posts overlapped.
That was enough.
Soon, side-by-side images began circulating across social media platforms. According to The Indian Express and Times of India, the speculation picked up pace after users claimed Kartik had followed Karina on Instagram and later unfollowed her once the discussion became public.
No one showed proof of the two being together. No picture showed them standing side by side. But once the idea caught on, it did not matter.
Why The Age Gap Changed The Conversation
Celebrity dating rumours are nothing new. Bollywood has seen them for decades. But this one struck a nerve for a very clear reason.
Kartik Aaryan is 35. Karina Kubiliute is 17.
Once her age became widely known, the tone online shifted sharply. Social media posts moved from gossip to outrage. Some users accused the actor of inappropriate behaviour. Others questioned why a minor was being dragged into the spotlight at all.
As reported by NDTV and Republic World, Karina’s social media accounts were soon flooded with comments. Many were invasive. Some were aggressive. Very few paused to ask a basic question: was there even a story here?
Still, there was no claim from Karina suggesting a relationship. No allegation. No indication of any wrongdoing.
But the noise did not slow down.
A Teenager Forced To Clarify
With the attention spiralling, Karina Kubiliute eventually addressed the rumours herself. Not through an interview. Not through a lawyer. Just a few words on Instagram.
“I don’t know Kartik, I’m not his gf, I’m on holiday with my family.”
The statement, reported by News18, India Today, and The Indian Express, was as clear as it could be. She also reacted to a viral post with frustration, writing: “I’m not his gfffff!!!!! Lois bro STFU.”
It was not rehearsed. It was not polished. It sounded like a teenager pushed into a corner.
According to Gulf News, the attention only intensified after her clarification. Her follower count jumped overnight. Strangers dissected her posts. Comments poured in faster than she could keep up. Soon after, she removed the bio update and switched off comments on all her posts. A private young woman, suddenly viral in India, chose silence over chaos.
Kartik Aaryan Says Nothing
Throughout the entire episode, Kartik Aaryan has remained silent. There has been no statement from him or his team. No denial. No clarification. His social media continues to show film promotions and brand work, with no reference to the controversy.
In the film industry, this is not unusual. When rumours are unproven, stars often choose not to respond. Still, many online have pointed out that silence can feel heavy when a minor is caught in the middle.
As per Khaleej Times, there is no indication that Kartik plans to address the issue publicly.
How Social Media Turns Guesswork Into Headlines
This incident is not unique. What is new is the speed. few matching photos. A theory. And suddenly, a narrative spreads across platforms, picked up by entertainment pages and debated endlessly.
What gets lost is proportion.
Karina Kubiliute is not a public figure. She did not seek attention. Yet she became the subject of national discussion almost overnight. Digital experts have repeatedly warned about this pattern, especially when minors are involved. Platforms rarely step in unless rules are clearly broken. Speculation, even when harmful, often slips through.
Work Continues As Usual For Kartik
On the professional front, Kartik Aaryan’s career appears unaffected. He was last seen in “Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri”, released in December 2025, opposite Ananya Panday. According to Business Standard, the film performed well at the box office.
He is now preparing for “Naagzilla: Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaand”, a fantasy-comedy that marks a shift from his usual romantic roles. He also has a romantic project lined up with filmmaker Anurag Basu, co-starring Sreeleela.
For now, shoots and schedules remain unchanged.
What This Episode Leaves Behind
Once the social media buzz dies down, what remains is a simple fact. A teenager had to publicly deny a rumour she did not create. Her online space became overwhelming. Her response was to step away entirely.
For Kartik Aaryan, this may pass as another fleeting controversy. For Karina Kubiliute, it was a sudden and uncomfortable introduction to internet scrutiny. Still, the bigger question lingers. In a time where coincidences are treated as proof, who takes responsibility when speculation harms real people?
For now, there is no relationship to confirm and no evidence to investigate. Just a reminder of how quickly rumours grow and how slowly empathy follows.
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- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/ayesha/
