Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently appeared before a court in Mumbai in connection with a defamation case he had filed against actor Kangana Ranaut. Akhtar, who had earlier accused Ranaut of making defamatory statements against him in an interview, told the magistrate that he felt “extremely humiliated” after her allegations. He also denied Ranaut’s claim that he had threatened her with a legal notice if she did not apologise. The court has adjourned the hearing till May 10.

Ranaut had earlier accused Akhtar of being part of a “mafia” that controlled Bollywood and had allegedly threatened her over her comments on the film industry. Akhtar had responded by filing a criminal complaint against Ranaut, accusing her of making defamatory statements against him. The court had earlier granted Akhtar interim relief from arrest in the case. The matter has been ongoing since 2020 and has attracted a lot of media attention.

Javed Akhtar is a well-known writer and poet who has penned several hit songs for Bollywood films. He is also known for his work as a screenwriter and has won several awards for his contributions to Indian cinema. Kangana Ranaut, on the other hand, is a popular Bollywood actor known for her outspoken views on a range of issues. She has been embroiled in several controversies in recent years and has been at loggerheads with several members of the film industry.