Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has spoken out on whether Pakistani artistes should work in India. “This is not the time,” he stressed, following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Akhtar said there’s barely any warmth left in cultural ties between India and Pakistan. He believes decisions like these should wait for better times.
He suggested that once Pakistan’s attitude towards India changes for the better, maybe then such questions can be raised. Right now, he said, it’s just not possible.
He recalled how legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan were once warmly welcomed in India. But he feels this goodwill hasn’t been returned by the Pakistani establishment.
His remarks come as the Indian government blocks the release of ‘Abir Gulaal’ starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The movie was set to hit theatres on May 9.
Asked about fairness of the ban, Akhtar said the discussion can happen some other time. For now, emotions are too raw, and the timing is off, especially after what happened in Pahalgam.