The poet and lyricist filed a complaint against Ranaut for making defamatory statements on television.
Javed Akhtar files defamation complaint against actress Kangana Ranaut
Mumbai - 03 Nov 2020 21:03 IST
Our Correspondent
Poet, screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has filed a criminal complaint against actress-filmmaker Kangana Ranaut for making defamatory statements against him on television.
The complaint has been filed at the metropolitan magistrate's court in Andheri, Mumbai.
The legal news website BarandBench.com reported that Javed Akhtar filed the complaint on the basis of Ranaut's interviews to Republic TV which, the lyricist said, damaged his reputation.
The complaint also said Ranaut needlessly dragged his name into the controversy around the death by suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Lyricist Javed Akhtar files criminal complaint against Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut for making defamatory statements on national and international television.
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) November 3, 2020
The complaint has been filed before the Metropolitan Magistrate at Andheri, Mumbai@KanganaTeam @Javedakhtarjadu pic.twitter.com/dlL4jJxEDS
Javed Akhtar's statement pointed out that the video of Ranaut's interview is still online and has also been circulated over different media and, hence, sought cognizance of the offence of defamation.
The veteran screenwriter and lyricist's reference is possibly to Ranaut's interview to Republic TV on 18 July 2020. The video of the interview on YouTube has her accusing Akhtar of threatening her over her controversial relationship with Hrithik Roshan. In the interview, the actress alleged that Akhtar asked her to apologize to Hrithik Roshan and said, "You will have to commit suicide."
The video also features Ranaut accusing a few members of the film industry, including Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt and Rhea Chakraborty, of being responsible for Rajput's suicide.
Incidentally, several top production houses, including Johar's Dharma Productions, Yash Raj Films and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment joined hands to file a defamation suit against several television channels, including Republic TV, for irresponsibly sensationalizing Rajput's death.
Ranaut had earlier branded Javed Akhtar's wife, actress Shabana Azmi, 'anti-national', in February last year.
This, of course, is not the first or only case the actress is facing. Ranaut and her manager, sister Rangoli Chandel, have been summoned for questioning in a separate case by the Mumbai police. A first information report (FIR) was lodged on Friday on the orders of a magistrate's court in Bandra against the sisters for trying to create a 'communal divide' through their posts. The police issued the summons earlier today.
