Javed Akhtar on Kangana Ranaut’s Apology: 'She Corrected Her Mistake, What More Do I Need?'
Javed Akhtar opens up about Kangana Ranaut’s courtroom apology and their future collaboration after resolving their legal dispute. Shabana Azmi also weighs in on the media coverage.
Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has spoken out about his now-resolved legal conflict with actress and filmmaker Kangana Ranaut. In a candid interview with Lallantop, Akhtar recounted how the two recently reached an understanding after years of legal tension.
Earlier this year, Kangana had shared on Instagram that she and Akhtar had settled their differences through court mediation. She even revealed that the acclaimed lyricist has agreed to pen songs for her upcoming directorial.
“She Wrote Me an Apology Before the Judge”
Speaking about the court proceedings, Javed Akhtar explained the sequence of events that led to the resolution.
“I met her at the court where she wrote me an apology before the judge. She signed on them,” he said. “I never demanded any money from her. I just demanded an apology, which she did. Even the judge signed on the apology letter.”
Following the formal apology, the interaction between the two took a surprisingly positive turn. “Soon after that, we had a conversation. She asked me, ‘Aap meri agli picture mein gaane likhenge?’ I was like, ‘Kyu nahi likhunga?’” Akhtar recalled, laughing.
He also humorously described how her lawyer wanted to include additional statements in the apology. “Her lawyer suggested if he could add more things like, ‘She respects you very much and you are like her father figure’. I was like, ‘Please, don’t write all that. I don’t want to be a father figure for someone so beautiful.’”
“Now, Everything is Sorted Between Us”
Akhtar noted that Kangana had also promised never to make such comments again. “She even wrote that she will never make such comments against me again. What more do I need? It makes no sense to keep grudge against her. She corrected her mistake and that’s all that matters.”
He added that their future interactions would be respectful and cordial. “Now, whenever I will see her, we will meet each other with respect and fondness.”
However, the lyricist was quick to point out that he hasn’t forgiven everyone. “There are a few people who I have not forgiven. I won’t reveal their names. I still have grudge against them.”
How it all began?
The legal dispute began in 2020 when Javed Akhtar filed a defamation case against Kangana Ranaut after she alleged he pressured her to apologise to actor Hrithik Roshan. Kangana, in turn, accused Akhtar of summoning her and her sister to his home with malafide intent in a counter-complaint filed in 2021.
Earlier this year, Kangana posted a photo with Akhtar on her Instagram Story, writing: “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.”
Shabana Azmi’s Take on the Outcome
Actor and Javed Akhtar’s wife, Shabana Azmi, later expressed disappointment at media portrayals of the resolution as a mutual settlement. She clarified to Bollywood Hungama, “They had asked for no monetary compensation but for her apology in writing. The victory is his and his lawyer Jay Bhardwaj’s.”
She added, “I am 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 half years.”
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