In a statement that is sure to generate headlines and social media outrage, legendary lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar once again showed he is not one to hold back on what he says. While launching Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s new book Narkatla Swarg, Akhtar said that he would rather go to hell than Pakistan — a provocative statement targeted at the religious extremists who attack him on social media regularly.
“Kaafir Or Jihadi — Either Way, I’m Told Where To Go”
The comment came as he reflected on years of being attacked on social media from both Hindu extremists and Muslim extremists.
“One side calls me a Kaafir, and tells me I’m going to hell. The other side calls me a Jihadi and tells me I’m going to Pakistan. If those are my two options, I’d rather go to hell.”
He told this to a packed Mumbai auditorium, and the crowd reacted with sustained applause and laughter.
The remarks were echoed after India’s recent Operation Sindoor, a military operation in which Indian troops targeted terror camps across the border following the Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir. Akhtar’s comment has since been trending across social media, with netizens divided over praise for his frankness and outrage over the slight to Pakistan.
Javed Akhtar On Extremist Abuse: “If Both Sides Hate Me, I Must Be Doing Something Right”
The former Rajya Sabha MP (2010–2016) went on to discuss our polarised times and how public engagement is dominated by extremism.
“Abuse from both sides has become a part of my life,” he said.
“But if even one extremist group stops abusing me, that will mean I was wrong,”
— showcasing his characteristic humour mixed with critique.
Regardless of the hatred, Akhtar pointed to the continued support he receives from followers who appreciate his courage to “speak truth to power”. He insisted that he is not seeking to provoke but to “confront both orthodoxy and hypocrisy”.
Political Heavyweights Present At Narkatla Swarg Launch
The launch of Sanjay Raut’s political memoir Narkatla Swarg was attended by Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and numerous senior political figures in Maharashtra. The event became electric after Akhtar got the mic. It was a reminder of why he continues to be the fearless public intellectual in India.
BoxOfficeWorldwide Verdict
Whatever your opinion, Javed Akhtar has never been one to shy away from taking risks. The ‘hell vs Pakistan’ comment is not just another viral headline; it is a bold middle finger to radicalism on both ideological sides. At a time when silence can be preferable to social media lynch mobs, Akhtar is one of the few who remains willing to risk the storm to remain true to his conscience.
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