Javed Akhtar Says He Prefers Hell Over Pakistan Amid Indo-Pak Tensions
Renowned Indian lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, stating that if he were forced to choose between Hell and Pakistan, he would choose Hell. His sensational comments gained significance in the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor.”
Javed Akhtar made these remarks while participating in a book launch event held in Mumbai on Saturday, where he shared several candid observations. He noted that alongside the praise he receives, he is also subjected to abuse and criticism from “extremists on both sides.” However, he did not explicitly clarify who these two sides were.
“When someone speaks only about one side, that side alone gets angry. But when you speak about all sides, many get angry. If you look at my Twitter and WhatsApp, you'll understand the kind of abuse I receive from both directions. Many people appreciate and praise me, and find inspiration in me. But it’s equally true that extremists on both sides hurl abuse at me. And it should be that way—because if only one side stops attacking me, I would begin to suspect that I might be doing something wrong,” Javed Akhtar said with a touch of irony.
Continuing his remarks, he stated, “One group calls me a ‘kafir’ and says I will go to ‘Jahannam’ (Hell). Another group calls me a ‘jihadi’ and tells me to go to Pakistan. If these are the only two options left for me, then I would prefer to go to Hell. I came to Mumbai when I was 19. Whatever I am today is because of this city and the state of Maharashtra.”
Earlier this month, Javed Akhtar had also strongly condemned Pakistan’s narrative portraying Kashmiris as Pakistanis. “That is an outright lie. After independence, when Pakistan attacked Kashmir, it was the Kashmiris who held them off for three days before our army arrived. The truth is, they cannot survive without India. The Pahalgam incident deeply pained them. Tourism has been affected. Kashmiris are Indians—99 percent of them are loyal to India,” he clarified.