PremiumJaved Akhtar on settling case with Kangana Ranaut: 'Maine paise toh maange nahi the, apology chahiye thi, jo mil gayi'
Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut ended their five-year defamation battle with a settlement. Kangana apologized, withdrew her statements, and Akhtar accepted, joking he’ll now find a new challenge.
Last Updated: 03.43 PM, Mar 02, 2025
After years of animosity, Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut have finally settled their slander dispute. Additionally, the legendary lyricist has already put the past in the past. Akhtar recently made the light-hearted comment that he's looking forward to taking on new challenges, showcasing his trademark humour.
Javed Akhtar on resolving differences with Kangana Ranaut
In a recent interview with Aaj Tak, the former screenwriter discussed finally getting his differences with Ranaut resolved. There has been a resolution to the cases and she has now recanted both her statement and the accusations. It is her solemn vow that she will never do it again. Ranaut expressed regret for the trouble she caused Akhtar and got out of the legal fight too. He further stated that he did not ask for money; he wanted an apology, which he got. Akhtar is not asking for anything else.
The lyricist replied with a grin, "Nahi, ab dekhta hoon (No, now let me see)," in response to the reporter's question about his happiness and contentment. He also mentioned that he would soon find another cause for concern.
Five-year legal battle comes to an end
A five-year legal battle ended with a settlement in the defamation cases between Ranaut and Akhtar. The actor updated her fans on Instagram with a joyful photo of them, sharing the good news.
In addition to resolving their legal situation (a defamation case), Ranaut and Akhtar had a pleasant mediation session, during which the latter was generous with his time and promised to provide lyrics for her upcoming directorial effort.
Origins of the dispute: 2020 interview
The interview that Ranaut gave to a news channel in 2020, following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, sparked the legal dispute between the two. The actor stated, among other things, that Akhtar wanted her to apologise to Hrithik Roshan. Her Krrrish 3 co-star sued her in 2016 for an apology following a public feud over a statement about their purported relationship.
Ranaut claimed that Rakesh Roshan and his family are extremely powerful individuals, according to Akhtar, who once invited her to his house. She also went on to say that Akhtar told her nobody will take her seriously unless she apologises to them. After going to jail, her only option will be to end her life; suicide is out of the question. Ranaut asserted that these were his exact words. She was yelled at and he screamed, wherein in his house, she was trembling.
Javed Akhtar's defamation lawsuit
After that, Akhtar launched a lengthy defamation lawsuit against her. The feud between them came to an end last week when the two withdrew their complaints from the Bandra magistrate court.
A misunderstanding led to Ranaut's comments from the July 2020 interview, which she acknowledged in her apology. She assures him that she will not repeat any of the statements she made in the interview on July 19, 2020, and going forward, she withdraws them all. In addition to agreeing to drop her complaint, Ranaut expressed regret for any trouble she may have given Akhtar and acknowledged her admiration for him.