Kangana Ranaut, Javed Akhtar end legal feud; seal it with creative twist

After five years of courtroom battles, actor-MP Kangana Ranaut and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar have finally called a truce, settling their defamation suits against each other. The unexpected resolution was announced by Kangana on Instagram, where she shared a smiling picture and a heartfelt update for her fans.

"Today, Javed ji and I have resolved our legal matter (defamation case) through mediation. He has been very kind and gracious during the process, and he even agreed to write songs for my next directorial," Kangana wrote in her post.

What sparked the feud?

The legal battle traces back to an explosive interview Kangana gave in 2020, following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. During the interview, she alleged that Akhtar had once pressured her to apologize to Hrithik Roshan amid their highly publicized feud in 2016.

"Javed Akhtar called me to his house and warned me about Rakesh Roshan and his family’s influence. He said if I didn’t apologize, they would destroy me. He even suggested that I might end up committing suicide," Kangana had claimed.

Akhtar, in response, filed a defamation case against her, dismissing her allegations as "nothing but a lie." He argued that their 2016 meeting had a clear agenda, and while he had admired Kangana’s work, the conversation took a different turn when she refused to engage with his concerns.

After years of legal back-and-forth, both parties have now opted for a more amicable closure — one that not only ends the courtroom drama but also opens the door for a creative collaboration.