February 28, 2025: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar have successfully resolved their long-standing defamation case through mediation. On Friday, Kangana shared the happy news on her Instagram Story, posting a picture with Akhtar from the court and expressing her gratitude for the peaceful settlement of their legal matter.
In her post, Kangana wrote, “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.” The two appeared to share a moment of cordiality as they posed for the camera, smiling together.
The defamation case began in November 2020, when Akhtar filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kangana after she allegedly dragged his name into a feud between her and actor Hrithik Roshan. In response, Kangana filed a counter-complaint against Akhtar, intensifying the legal dispute. However, after almost five years of legal battles, the two have now put their differences aside, leading to a peaceful resolution.
On the work front, Kangana is currently busy working on a new film that reunites her with her “Tanu Weds Manu” co-star R Madhavan. The two will collaborate once again, this time in a psychological thriller. The announcement of the film came shortly after the release of Kangana’s directorial, Emergency, in which she portrayed former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Javed Akhtar has been making waves with his recent docuseries Angry Young Men, which delves into his iconic creative partnership with Salim Khan, a collaboration that has significantly shaped the Bollywood industry.
This amicable resolution marks a positive turn in what had been a highly publicized legal dispute, and both parties now look forward to future creative endeavors.