Elder lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar, who has never minced words on religion and patriotism, recently raised eyebrows with a strong statement that he would opt for hell over Pakistan if such a choice were ever to be made.
Akhtar, 80, said this at the Mumbai book launch event of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday night.
At the event, Akhtar — himself an avowed atheist for many years — talked openly about the criticism he faces from hardliners on the both sides of the India-Pakistan divide.
Sometime later, I'll show you my Twitter (now X) and WhatsApp. I am abused by both sides. I'm not thankless so I'll say there are also people who appreciate what I say, encourage me. But it's true that extremists from both here and there abuse me. This is right. If one of them stops abusing me, it'll be a matter of concern for me," he said.
Going on, he stated, "One side says 'You are a kaafir (non-believer) and will go to hell. The other side says, 'Jihadi, go to Pakistan'. If the option is between Pakistan and hell, I would choose to go to hell," earning loud applause from the audience.
Akhtar also insisted on keeping an independent mind, untainted by political alignments.
"There cannot be party loyalty. All parties belong to us and yet no party belongs to us," he added. "Then they can state what they think is right and wrong. I'm also one of those citizens. If you talk from one side, you'll make the other side unhappy. But if you talk out from various viewpoints, you make a lot more people unhappy."
Having settled in Mumbai at 19, Akhtar attributed the city and the state of Maharashtra with making his career and life what it is.
Looking back at security threats he has encountered throughout his life, he announced that he has been given police protection four times, three of them for threats made by religious clerics.
Just a month back, speaking to PTI in an interview, Akhtar said about the state of cultural relations between India and Pakistan that any warmth there was is gone now. He said it is not the right time to talk about the possibility of Pakistani artists working in India.
His statement was made after the recent ban on the theatrical release of "Abir Gulaal," a movie featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, due to the unfortunate Pahalgam attack.
Read also| Tom Cruise Eyes Bollywood Debut: Plans to Star in an Indian Film
Read also| Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme Set for Theatrical Release in India on this date
