Bringing an end to a prolonged legal dispute that had stretched for nearly five years, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut issued an unconditional apology on Wednesday to veteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar. The apology pertained to defamatory remarks she had previously made about him, in which she had implicated him in matters related to the tragic demise of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. By tendering her unreserved apology, Ranaut has effectively put to rest the long-standing defamation case that had been initiated against her.
Both Ranaut and Akhtar personally appeared before the court to finalize and formalize their settlement. The legal battle, which had garnered significant media attention over the years, was officially concluded on Wednesday.
As per the statement recorded by Ranaut before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Bandra, she acknowledged that the statements she made during her interview on July 19, 2020, with Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami were the result of certain misunderstandings. She expressed that she had no intention of defaming or causing harm to Akhtar’s reputation and deeply regretted any inconvenience her comments may have caused him.
Ranaut, who is also a Member of Parliament representing Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, formally retracted all allegations and remarks she had made against Javed Akhtar in the aforementioned interview. Furthermore, she provided an undertaking to the court that she would refrain from repeating such statements in the future.
In her apology submitted to the Mumbai Court, Ranaut stated, “I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to Mr. Javed Akhtar, who is not only one of the most senior and respected members of the Indian film fraternity but also a person for whom I hold a great deal of respect.”
Given her unconditional retraction and apology, Javed Akhtar agreed to withdraw his defamation complaint against her. With mutual consent, the settlement was accepted by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A.K. Awari, leading to the formal closure of the defamation case that had been pending in the court for several years.
The origins of this legal conflict trace back to December 2020, when Akhtar filed a private complaint before a Magistrate Court, accusing Kangana Ranaut of defamation. In his plea, Akhtar alleged that Ranaut had tarnished his reputation by making false statements about him during her televised interview with Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami on July 19, 2020.
Akhtar, in his complaint, described himself as a self-made man who arrived in Mumbai on October 4, 1964, with nothing but Rs 27, two pairs of clothes, and a few books. At the time, he was merely 19 years old. Over the years, through relentless hard work and immense dedication, he established himself as one of the most accomplished and revered artists in the Indian film industry.
The plea further highlighted that Akhtar’s illustrious career spans over 55 years, a remarkable achievement in itself. Beyond his contributions to Bollywood as a lyricist and poet, he also served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from March 2010 to March 2016. This, his plea argued, further underscored his standing as a highly respectable figure within the industry and beyond.
According to Akhtar’s legal team, the defamatory remarks made by Ranaut were baseless and unjustified. The interview, which lasted for approximately 57 minutes, included a segment in which Ranaut discussed the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Akhtar alleged that Ranaut had made misleading and defamatory statements against him despite having no direct or personal knowledge of the matter.
In his complaint, Akhtar expressed his deep distress over being unnecessarily implicated in a sensitive and unrelated issue. He contended that his name was dragged into the controversy without any basis, thereby causing unwarranted damage to his reputation. The plea further stated, “Needlessly dragging the complainant’s name into an unconnected, sensitive matter is tantamount to extending veiled threats to the complainant, who is an extremely respectable member of the film fraternity.”
Following a prolonged legal tussle, both parties have now resolved their differences, with Ranaut publicly withdrawing her statements and offering an unconditional apology. This legal settlement marks the end of a contentious chapter between the two film industry personalities, allowing both to move forward without any further dispute.
