Javed Akhtar Wanted a Written Apology from Kangana: Shabana Azmi’s Major Revelation After Settlement

Shabana Azmi on the Javed Akhtar-Kangana Ranaut Defamation Case: The long-standing legal battle between veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar and actress Kangana Ranaut came to an end in February. A Mumbai court facilitated a resolution between the two, bringing the case to a close. However, nearly a month after the settlement, Javed Akhtar’s wife and renowned actress Shabana Azmi has made a significant revelation, stating that “this was not a mutual settlement in the true sense.”

Javed Akhtar Insisted on a Written Apology from Kangana

According to media reports, Shabana Azmi said, “Javed Akhtar did not seek any financial compensation from Kangana Ranaut. Instead, he only wanted her to issue a written apology. In this matter, the victory belongs to Javed and his lawyer, Jay Bharadwaj. I was disappointed with how the media portrayed this case as a mutual settlement. The way the media described the agreement between Javed and Kangana as a compromise was misleading. Javed’s sole intention behind pursuing this case for four and a half years was to obtain a written apology from Kangana.”

Javed Akhtar Filed a Defamation Case in 2020

The dispute between Kangana Ranaut and Javed Akhtar dates back to 2016, when Kangana was embroiled in a controversy regarding her email exchanges with actor Hrithik Roshan. During that period, she had made several serious allegations against Hrithik. Since Javed Akhtar was a close friend of the Roshan family, he attempted to mediate by inviting Kangana to his home and reportedly advising her to apologize to Hrithik.

However, Kangana never publicly mentioned this meeting until 2020. Following the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, she spoke about the conversation with Javed Akhtar during a TV interview. Her statements angered Javed Akhtar, prompting him to file a defamation case against her.

After nearly four years of legal proceedings, both parties reached a settlement. On February 28, 2025, the case was officially resolved.