Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut recently ended their nearly five-year-long legal battle through mediation in their defamation case. Last month, the actress shared the news on social media and praised the screenwriter, mentioning that he had agreed to write songs for her next directorial venture. However, lyricist and veteran actress Shabana Azmi shared a different perspective on the case resolution, stating that it was not a mutual settlement as it appeared, but rather Javed Akhtar had won the case.

Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut's Legal Dispute

The conflict between Javed Akhtar and Kangana Ranaut began in 2020, after the actress’s interview following Sushant Singh Rajput's death went viral. In the interview, she claimed that Akhtar had asked her to apologize to co-star Hrithik Roshan, who had filed a lawsuit against her in 2016 over a statement regarding their alleged relationship. In response, the lyricist filed a complaint, claiming that Ranaut had made defamatory statements against him. After several court hearings, both sides agreed to mediation in February. The Emergency actress admitted that her previous statements stemmed from a misunderstanding and revealed that she had apologized on social media.

Shabana Azmi clarified that Javed Akhtar had sought an apology rather than monetary compensation. In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, she said, “They had asked for no monetary compensation but for her apology in writing. The victory is his and his lawyer Jay Bhardwaj’s. But I’m mystified why the press made it seem as though it was a mutual settlement but did not mention that it was the apology in writing which he was seeking and why he had fought the case for four and a half years.”

 
 
 
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A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18)

Earlier, after ending the legal battle with Kangana, Javed Akhtar revealed, “Yes, the cases have been settled. She has taken back her word and the allegations. She has committed that she would never repeat it again. She has apologized for all the inconvenience caused to me. She also withdrew her case. Main paise toh mange nahi the, apology chahiye thi, jo mil gayi."

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