After five years of courtroom battles, actor-MP Kangana Ranaut and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar have finally resolved their defamation cases against each other. The two reached a mutual settlement through mediation, putting an end to their long-standing legal dispute.
Kangana took to Instagram to share the news with her fans, posting a happy picture along with the update. She wrote, “Today, Javed ji and I have resolved our legal matter (defamation case) through mediation. In the mediation, Javed ji has been very kind and gracious. He has also agreed to write songs for my next directorial.”
The Origins Of The Feud
The legal battle between Kangana and Javed Akhtar began in 2020 when she gave an interview to a news channel following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. During the interview, she claimed that Akhtar had pressured her to apologise to Hrithik Roshan, who had sued her in 2016 over statements about their alleged relationship.
Kangana alleged that Akhtar had warned her about the influence of Hrithik’s father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan. She claimed he told her, “If you don’t apologise, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be destruction… you will commit suicide.”
Akhtar strongly denied these allegations and filed a defamation case against Kangana, stating in court, “Whatever Kangana said in the interview is a lie and nothing but a lie.”
Javed Akhtar’s Response
In his defence, Akhtar clarified that he had called Kangana to a meeting for a specific discussion and had no personal agenda. He stated, “I had told her about the purpose of the meeting on call. I didn’t call her to discuss the weather, political situation, or the US elections in 2016.”
Although he admitted he did not know Kangana personally, Akhtar said he had always admired her work as an actor. However, during their conversation, he changed the topic once he realised that she was not willing to listen.
A Fresh Start?
With their legal battle now behind them, the two seem to have found common ground. Kangana’s revelation that Akhtar will write songs for her next film suggests a positive turn in their relationship. Whether this marks the beginning of a new professional collaboration remains to be seen, but for now, Bollywood fans are surprised by this unexpected truce.
