Javed Akhtar says India's respect for Pakistan artists hasn't been reciprocated. Here's why

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has weighed in on the long-standing debate over whether Pakistani artists should be allowed to work in India. Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, Akhtar said that this is not the right time to even raise the question.

“There is hardly any friendly feeling or warmth because of what has happened in Pahalgam,” Akhtar noted, referring to the recent terrorist violence that has strained relations between the two countries further. Javed Akhtar also noted that late singer Lata Mangeshkar was highly revered in Pakistan but never performed in the country even once. "I won't complain to the people of Pakistan because they loved her. That's why she was so popular... They admired her but there was some blockage. And the blockage was in the system... In this kind of one-way traffic, there once comes a tiredness. This is absolutely equally valid. We don't get any response from you, but that will go on till when?" he asked.

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Javed Akhtar
was attending the ‘IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP’ event organised by FICCI when he made the remarks. On being asked if the ban on Pakistani artists working in India is justified, he stressed that discussions like these are better suited to a future where tensions have eased. “This could be thought about in better times and hopefully after some years, some sense will prevail. And there’ll be a better attitude towards India from the establishment of Pakistan. And then this can be considered. But at the moment, this question should not be asked. Not possible,” he said firmly.

He added, “The question should be, should we allow Pakistani artists to work here?” he said, suggesting that the focus right now should be on national sentiment and security, rather than cross-border collaborations.

Akhtar also reflected on the appreciation Indian audiences have always had for Pakistani talent, citing legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz as a “poet of the subcontinent” and pointing to the shared literary and cultural heritage. However, he maintained that this moment is not appropriate for any such artistic exchange.


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