According to India Today, Kangana, while addressing the court, recounted the shared experiences she claimed to have had with Sushant regarding alleged bullying and harassment by the film industry towards outsiders. Stressing the parallels between herself and Sushant, both hailing from North India, having backgrounds in science, and belonging to the Rajput community, Kangana asserted that she, too, had faced mistreatment as an outsider in the industry.
The actress candidly disclosed that the thought of suicide had crossed her mind at one point. “When I saw the suicide of Rajput, I was deeply affected,” Kangana said. She went on to allege that in 2016, during a public dispute with Hrithik Roshan, Akhtar had purportedly summoned her to his residence and issued threats, a claim vehemently denied by Akhtar.
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Addressing the controversial 2016 meeting, Kangana expressed feeling intimidated by Akhtar’s demeanor, admitting to feeling depressed at the time. She clarified that although she mentioned Akhtar’s name in the interview, it was done so in the natural flow of conversation without any deliberate intent.
Kangana reiterated her intention behind the interview, emphasizing her desire to shed light on the challenges faced by outsiders in the film industry. She recalled the alleged confrontation with Akhtar during the 2016 meeting, citing it as a source of depression, trauma, and anxiety.
Explaining the delay in filing a complaint against Akhtar, Kangana attributed it to the humiliation she endured as an outsider in the industry. She emphasized her inclination towards defending herself against accusations rather than initiating legal action against others.
The proceedings saw Kangana’s statement recorded, with the actress set to undergo cross-examination by Akhtar’s lawyer, Jay Bharadwaj, in the next hearing scheduled for March. Additionally, it was noted that Kangana had filed a counter-complaint against Akhtar in 2021, the hearing of which is presently stayed as Akhtar challenged it in the Dindoshi Sessions court.