Javed Akhtar sought apology from Kangana Ranaut in defamation case, reveals Shabana Azmi: It wasn’t a mutual settlement | Bollywood-OxBig News Network

Did Javed want an apology from Kangana?

Shabana Azmi shared that Javed wanted a written apology from Kangana rather than “monetary compensation.” She said, “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, “But I’m 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.”

What led to a case between Javed and Kangana

Javed had filed a complaint against Kangana in July 2020, alleging that she had defamed and damaged his ‘immaculate reputation’ by dragging his name into late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death during an interview with a news channel. She had later filed a cross-complaint against Javed, alleging criminal intimidation and insult to modesty.

What Kangana, Javed said during mediation in February

In the mediation report submitted to the court, Kangana said “the statements made by me in the interview dated July 19, 2020 and thereafter were a result of misunderstanding.” “I hereby unconditionally withdraw all the statements made by me….and I undertake not to repeat the same in future. I apologise for the inconvenience caused to Mr Javed Akhtar who is one one of the senior most members of the film fraternity and I have highest regards for him”.

The actor withdrew the complaint against the noted lyricist. Javed, in his mediation report, said, “In view of the statements made by Ms Kangana Ranaut, I agree to withdraw the complaint…” After their court appearance, Kangana had posted a photo of herself standing gleefully with Javed, and said in the caption that the legal matter has been resolved and that the lyricist has agreed to write songs for her next film.

The duo appeared before the special court in Mumbai and informed it of their decision to withdraw the complaints they had filed against each other.

What were their complaints, defamation case about

In her complaint, Kangana had claimed that during her meeting with Javed at his residence in 2016, he criminally intimidated her, demanding that she apologise to a co-star. Her lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, and Javed’s advocate, Jay Kumar Bhardwaj, said the matter was settled through an hour-long mediation before the special magistrate court in Bandra.

Later, In her Instagram post, Kangana said Javed was “kind and gracious” during the mediation process. “Today, Javedji 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,” she wrote.

(With PTI inputs)