Today, On 28th February, Actor Kangana Ranaut and lyricist Javed Akhtar reached a settlement in the long-standing defamation case. As part of the resolution, Ranaut apologized to Akhtar for any inconvenience caused. The case stemmed from her remarks linking Akhtar to a larger conspiracy, which he denied. This settlement brings an end to their legal dispute, avoiding further courtroom proceedings.
Actor Kangana Ranaut settled the defamation case filed against her by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, which had been ongoing for over four years, through mediation.
Akhtar, a BJP MP, apologized for the “inconvenience” caused to Ranaut. The two appeared before a special court, where they informed the judge of their decision to withdraw their respective complaints.
Following the court session, Ranaut shared a photo with Akhtar on her social media, announcing the resolution of their legal dispute. The court is expected to issue a formal order later in the day.
Ranaut explained that her statement against Akhtar stemmed from a misunderstanding, and she expressed regret for any inconvenience it may have caused him. Akhtar originally filed his complaint in 2020, accusing Ranaut of defaming him by linking his name to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death during a July interview.
In response, Ranaut filed a cross-complaint against Akhtar, alleging criminal intimidation and insult to modesty, claiming that he had intimidated her during a meeting in 2016.
Both parties settled the matter after an hour-long mediation session at a special magistrate court in Bandra. Ranaut acknowledged her misunderstanding and agreed to withdraw her statement, with Akhtar’s advocate, Jay Kumar Bhardwaj, confirming that she has pledged not to make similar statements in the future.
Ranaut’s lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, stated,
“We had been seeking mediation for a long time and had exchanged drafts. Finally, we have resolved the case.”
He added,
“There were no issues; only the wording needed to be finalized, which was accomplished today. We prepared the draft, signed it, and both cases were withdrawn.”
Initially heard by a magistrate court in Andheri, the case was transferred in 2024 to a special magistrate court designated for matters involving MPs and MLAs after Ranaut was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency in Himachal Pradesh.
In his complaint, Akhtar alleged that Ranaut had implicated him during an interview while discussing a “coterie” in Bollywood following Rajput’s alleged suicide.
Ranaut praised Akhtar on Instagram, describing him as “kind and gracious” during the mediation process. She wrote in her post,
“Today, Javedji and I have resolved our legal matter (defamation case) through mediation. Javed ji was very kind and gracious; he also agreed to write songs for my next directorial.”
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