Rishi Kapoor back on Twitter after being targeted by Salman Khan fans

Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor returned to Twitter on Friday after 'retiring' from the social media platform on Thursday night. Kapoor had unwittingly found himself in the midst of a controversy after Salman Khan's sentence for his 2002 hit-and-run.

Kapoor had quit Twitter following backlash from fans of Salman Khan, who took offence to his tweet criticising singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya for calling people who sleep on the road 'dogs'. Frustrated with the reactions, Kappor decided to leave Twitter, only to make his way back a couple of hours ago. For his return, he thanked filmmaker Sajid Khan.

Here's how the sequence of events unfolded:

Rishi starts with a tweet expressing moral support to Salman Khan and his family.

The Kapoors are with the Khans in their difficult time. Time is the biggest healer. God Bless! — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 6, 2015

Then he makes an apparent U-turn, or so Salman's fans think.

Ashamed of Abhijit the singer and some Ejaz Khan. Bunch of idiots and non starters. How does Times Now get these losers on Prime Time — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 6, 2015

Sorry to say but only wannabe Chamchas of Salman siding him with ridiculous support.Hum bhi well wishers hain but give logical explanations — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 6, 2015

They are quick to rush to their hero's defence.

@chintskap calling ajaz a chamcha? Does that make us his chamchis cuz we are supporting our star? That was cheap of you calling ajaz chamcha — Injila (@InjilaHamidi) May 6, 2015

@chintskap if ur talking abt Abhijit than this guy is mad, but rest of them u just can't comment against — Free Salman Khan (@Being_Shamim) May 6, 2015

.@chintskap well wisher aise tweet nahi karte chutiye.. And Salman Khan is baap of bollywood not like u or ur 2rs son _|_ STFU — pïra†e oƒ hear†š (@being_tiger_) May 7, 2015

@chintskap The people who r reacting strongly are his close friends & they have the right to do that. No one is doing chamchagiri.

— I Stand By Salman (@BeingKhaled) May 6, 2015

Though they were a lot of supportive tweets too, Rishi Kapoor was clearly rattled by the hostile ones.

My saying Chamchas was for Abhijeets inhuman comment and Ejaaz saying about the law.People misunderstood me.I said am with Salman earlier — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 7, 2015

Hi. Thought about it.Too much negativity abusive language and disregard for seniors. Will retire from Twitter coz it has only given me grief — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 7, 2015

Actor Anupam Kher then pleaded with Rishi not to quit, and Sajid Khan declared that Rishi was going nowhere:

Sir! You are letting them win if you retire. Be on Twitter on your terms. There are millions who love you too.:) https://t.co/vF3oMTGWDC — Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) May 8, 2015

To all the fans of rishi kapoor(incldg me)...good news...just had a long chat with him..he is not quitting twitter. https://t.co/FXm99NZKLW — Sajid Khan (@SimplySajidK) May 8, 2015

Finally, Rishi Kapoor came back.

Sajid.You are responsible for my coming back.Tweeple.If I do anything wrong lynch this man Sajid. Thank you Twitter for welcoming me.Touched — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) May 8, 2015

Rishi Kapoor has been known for his frank Tweeting, a quality rare among filmstars. He raised many hackles in March when he came out as a 'beef-eating Hindu', slamming the beef ban by the Maharashtra government.

If it is the problem of slaughtering our "Gau mata"then the government should allow importing beef which was banned until now.All happy then — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) March 3, 2015

Vodka too works. Kar lo mazaa "BEEF"ore the Government bans this too — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) March 5, 2015

I am angry. Why do you equate food with religion?? I am a beef eating Hindu. Does that mean I am less God fearing then a non eater? Think!! — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) March 15, 2015

Knew this would go wrong!When did I say I have "Gau Maas"and I kill cows? Yes I eat beef where cattle are bred for food legally Not in India — rishi kapoor (@chintskap) March 16, 2015

On that occasion, Kapoor continued to put out his opinions despite constant backlash from supporters of the ban. It seems however that Salman's fans were able to rattle Kapoor. One can only hope he stays put on the social networking site.