After a prolonged legal dispute spanning five years, actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar have finally resolved their defamation cases against each other through mediation. The unexpected resolution brings an end to the acrimonious battle that had kept them entangled in court proceedings for years.
Kangana took to Instagram to share the news with her followers, posting a cheerful picture alongside the announcement. Expressing her relief and gratitude, 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 also agreed to write songs for my next directorial.”
The feud between the two began in 2020 following an interview Kangana gave to a news channel in the aftermath of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. During the conversation, she alleged that Javed Akhtar had pressured her to apologize to co-star Hrithik Roshan. Hrithik had filed a lawsuit against her in 2016 after their public spat over her statements regarding their alleged relationship.
Kangana Ranaut recounted an incident where she was summoned to Akhtar’s residence and warned about the consequences of not apologizing to Hrithik and his family. Describing the encounter, she claimed, “Once Javed Akhtar called me to his house and told me Rakesh Roshan (father of Hrithik Roshan) and his family are very big people. If you don’t apologise to them, you will have nowhere to go. They will put you in jail, and eventually, the only path would be that of destruction… you will commit suicide. These were his words. He shouted and yelled at me. I was shaking in his house.”
In response to these allegations, Javed Akhtar filed a defamation suit against Kangana, vehemently denying her claims. In his statement to the court, he asserted, “Whatever Kangana said in the interview is a lie and nothing but a lie.” He further clarified that he had informed her about the purpose of their meeting beforehand, stating, “I had told her about the agenda of the meeting on call. Didn’t call her to discuss the weather, political situation or America election in 2016.”
Despite the intensity of the legal battle, the recent mediation has paved the way for an amicable conclusion. Not only has the issue been settled, but it appears that their professional paths may cross again, with Akhtar agreeing to contribute his lyrical talent to Kangana’s next directorial venture. The resolution marks a surprising yet positive turn in a conflict that once seemed irreconcilable.
