- Javed Akhtar, who is receiving flak from Pakistani celebrities.
- Praises from Indian counterparts for his comment during an event.
- He has opened up on whether he was scared of speaking his mind.
Javed Akhtar has now discussed if he was afraid to speak his thoughts at the occasion after receiving criticism from Pakistani celebrities and admiration from Indian counterparts for his most recent remark. Javed is well renowned for speaking his opinion and never ducks a topic to avoid conflict.
Javed Akhtar recently went to a festival in Lahore to honor the author Faiz Ahmed Faiz, where he learned that Indians believe all Pakistanis to be terrorists. In a sharp response, Javed stated that Pakistan is still home to the terrorists who carried out the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Since then, he has been in the center of the controversy; Pakistani celebrities have criticized him, while lawmakers and celebrities in India have praised him for the statement.
Javed reiterated his remarks from the event while speaking at an ABP event, adding, “It grew too large, making me feel ashamed and hesitant to leave (for such events). Jeet ke aya hoon yaha aya to laga pata nahi third world war (as if I won the third world war). There are so many responses from the public and the media. I felt embarrassed, how come? We have to mention that, should we just keep quiet, Itni baat to kehni padegi, chup rahein kya?”
He claimed to have received messages notifying him that people in Pakistan were asking him how he obtained a visa, and he added that he might just remember the location at this point (suggesting that he may not ever get to go back again). Javed responded, “Is tarah ki baatein, jo controversial hain…jis mulk pe paida hue, jeete hain aur marenge waha karte rehte hain to dusre mulk me do din jana waha kya dar tha? ” when asked if he felt afraid to speak his mind while sitting in Lahore at an event being held in a hall full of Pakistanis. ‘Jab yaha nahi darte to waha kya darenge’ (Why would I make such divisive remarks in the nation where I was born and will die?).
Speaking to a crowd at the Pakistani literary festival, Javed argued that it was unfair to expect Indians to disregard the fact that the attackers were living freely in Pakistan after having witnessed the horrors of the 26/11 assaults in Bombay.
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