Lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar has finally broken his silence on settling his long-standing legal feud with actor-MP Kangana Ranaut, ending their five-year legal dispute.

In a recent interview, the 60-year-old joked about the resolution. “Yes, the cases have been settled. She has taken back her word and the allegations. She has committed that she would never repeat it again. She has apologized for all the inconvenience caused to me. She also withdrew her case. Maine paise toh maange nahin thhe, apology chahiye thi, jo mil gayi (I hadn’t asked for any money in the defamation case. I wanted an apology, which I have received),” he told Aaj Tak.

When asked if he is happy and at peace, Javed laughed and said, “Nahin, ab dekhta hoon. Koi doosri pareshaani mol lunga (No, now I will see. I might take on some other challenge).”

Kangana had shared the update regarding the dispute on Instagram Stories on Friday with a picture of the two posing together (see inset). “Today Javed ji and I have resolved our legal matter through mediation, in the mediation Javed ji has been very kind and gracious, he also agreed to write songs for my next directorial,” the 38-year-old wrote alongside.

The controversy began in 2020, when Javed filed a complaint alleging that Kangana had made defamatory statements against him in a television interview, which he claimed damaged his reputation.