Latest news with #JavedAkhtar
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Sardaar Ji 3' controversy: BJP, Javed Akhtar, and Imtiaz Ali speak out in support of Diljit Dosanjh
Amid growing backlash over the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3, several prominent corners, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Javed Akhtar, and Imtiaz Ali, have spoken in support of lead actor and co-producer Diljit Dosanjh. The controversy began after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) called for strict action against Dosanjh, including revoking his Indian citizenship. Their demand followed the announcement that Sardaar Ji 3 would not be released in India, a decision made by its producers in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The film, shot before the incident, released overseas on June 27. BJP national spokesperson R P Singh publicly backed Dosanjh, calling him 'a national asset and a global ambassador of Indian culture.' In a post on X, Singh criticised FWICE's demands as 'shockingly disproportionate,' noting that the film was completed prior to the Pahalgam attack and before any ban on cross-border collaborations. .@diljitdosanjh is not just a celebrated artist—he's a national asset and a global ambassador of Indian culture. FWICE's call to revoke his Indian citizenship over an inadvertent and pre-incident film shoot is not only unfair but shockingly disproportionate. The film featuring a… — RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) June 27, 2025 He further questioned the selective outrage, pointing out that India's cricket team played against Pakistan shortly before the attack and that television networks regularly feature Pakistani guests. 'Let's not cheapen nationalism or weaponise patriotism,' he wrote, urging FWICE to reconsider its position. FWICE demanding @diljitdosanjh's citizenship be revoked is absurd. The film was shot before the Phalgam attack. Boycott it if needed—but don't vilify a national asset. TV anchors invite Pakistanis for TRPs daily. Do we question their patriotism ? Let's not weaponize nationalism. — RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) June 27, 2025 Punjab BJP's Culture Cell Convenor and actor Hobby Dhaliwal echoed the sentiment during a press conference in Chandigarh. 'Diljit is the son of this soil. Punjab stands with him — and India too,' he stated, calling the criticism 'unjustified' and 'politically motivated.' Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar also came to Dosanjh's defense during a recent interview with NDTV. When informed that Sardaar Ji 3 was shot before the attack, he said, 'Usko pata toh nahi tha ki aisa hoga (He didn't know what would happen,)' adding that the government and censor board should show some sympathy and allow the release. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who is currently working on a film with Dosanjh, highlighted the actor's patriotism, saying, 'He is a son of the soil… he shows up with the Indian flag at every concert.' Ali also noted that casting decisions are not solely in the hands of actors. Meanwhile, FWICE has sent a letter urging Ali to withdraw from his collaboration with Dosanjh, warning that continued association sends a 'conflicting message.' They also appealed to the Government of India to blacklist the actor and revoke his citizenship and passport.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Javed Akhtar slams de facto ban on ‘bechara' Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3: 'Paisa Indian ka doobega, Pakistani ka nahi'
Lyricist Javed Akhtar has expressed his opinion on the ongoing row about singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and his new film Sardaar Ji 3 starring Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. Diljit found himself amid a controversy after he released the trailer of his upcoming film against the backdrop of continuing tensions between India and Pakistan. Now speaking with NDTV, Javed called Diljit 'bechara (poor thing)', adding that the government "should look at the situation with a little sympathy". Javed Akhtar spoke about Diljit Dosanjh, Sardaar Ji 3 row and Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. The tensions between India and Pakistan spiralled after the Pahalgam terror attack. When Javed Akhtar was told about how the team of Sardaar Ji 3 shared that the film was shot before the attack, he showed sympathy towards Diljit. "Ab kya kare bechara. The movie was shot earlier. Usko pata toh nahi tha ki aisa hoga. Iss mein Pakistani aadmi ka paisa toh nahi doobega, Hindustani ka paisa doobega. Toh phir kya faayda (What can the poor thing do.? He didn't know something like this would happen. The monetary loss will be of the Indians and not of the Pakistanis)." Javed also said that if Diljit knew about the tensions between the two countries, he would not have chosen a Pakistani actor for his film. He further said, "Usko pehle pata hota yeh hone wala hain, toh woh thodi na leta Pakistani actress (had he known something of this sort would happen, he wouldn't have chosen a Pakistani actress). I think the government and the censor board should look at the situation with a little sympathy. And say that don't do this again, but since you made this film before, then release it. But it should not happen again." About India-Pak tensions The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22, followed by India's Operation Sindoor on May 7. During the operation, air strikes were carried out on terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Following that, the social media accounts of several Pakistani artists, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Hania, were banned in India. About Sardaar Ji 3 After Diljit shared the trailer of Sardaar Ji 3 featuring Hania, he faced criticism from celebrities as well as fans. The film was released overseas on June 27. Directed by Amar Hundal, Sardaar Ji 3 also stars Neeru Bajwa, Gulshan Grover, and Sapna Pabbi.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Pahalgam Attack Was On Country, Not Government: Javed Akhtar On Op Sindoor Delegations
New Delhi: Members of the opposition being part of the outreach delegations to various countries following Operation Sindoor is a welcome step because the Pahalgam terror attack was not carried out on the government, but India as a whole, noted lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar has said. In an over 30-minute discussion at NDTV's Creators' Manch on Friday, Mr Akhtar also spoke about where the real power centre in Pakistan lies and the row over the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Amir in Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Sardaar Ji 3'. Asked if including leaders like the Congress' Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in the outreach delegations was a calculated move by the government, the lyricist said in Hindi, "The Pahalgam terror attack was not on the government, it was an attack on the country. So everyone in the country will go. Among the people (who were part of the delegations) are some who keep attacking the government. But when it comes to the country, we are all one... the other issues are internal ones and we will keep talking about them internally," the lyricist said. Mr Akhtar said Mr Tharoor is very articulate and he was happy the Congress leader led one of the delegations, because he has diplomatic experience at the United Nations. "This is an issue that concerns the country, and that's when everyone is one. That is how it should be. This is not about a political party," he said. On the relationship between India and Pakistan, Mr Akhtar said it feels like this is the worst phase because it is a fresh wound, but pointed out that the 1965 war and the Kargil war had also happened. "Each time, the government in Pakistan tries to wash its hands of what's happening and claims it wasn't involved. In 1948, they said tribals had entered Kashmir; during the Kargil war, they said they did not know who had gone there. Similarly, in Pahalgam, they said they did not know anything about the attack. This is nothing new, it's what they do," he said. 'Not A Monolith' The lyricist stressed, however, that no country is a monolith and crores of people in Pakistan want friendship with India, but this does not suit the country's government, army and right wing. "It suits the common people there, and why won't it? India is such a big market, it has great universities, a rich culture... so young people from there will want to come here and work... in the entertainment industry and the corporate sphere. Businessmen would also want to collaborate with Indian businesses, how are all of them benefiting from strained ties? They only lose because of this," he said. Mr Akhtar said even the US knows where the real power centre in Pakistan lies and that democracy in the country is a sham. "Those who benefit are the right wing in Pakistan, because their existence depends on hatred for India and the country's army, because it'll have to stay in the barracks if there is no confrontation with India. Even when the American president wanted to talk to Pakistan, he could have spoken to the president or prime minister, but he knew where the real power lies, so he called their army chief Asim Munir. This made it clear that their democracy is a sham and the army rules the country. So, how will good relations with India suit them?" he pointed out. The lyricist repeated that it would not be in India's interest to treat Pakistan as a monolith. Indians, he said, should encourage people in Pakistan who admire and love India. Diljit Row On the row over the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Amir in Diljit Dosanjh's 'Sardaar Ji 3', Mr Akhtar said it was pointless because the movie had been shot earlier. "How was he to know? Pakistan will not lose money (because of this), our countryman will... Laws can't be applied retrospectively... The Censor Board and the government should look at this sympathetically. They can say it shouldn't happen again," he suggested. One way of bettering the relationship between the countries when things weren't as bad as they are now, the scriptwriter said, would have been for artistes from both sides to make movies with the involvement of the governments.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Society Shaken Only When...": Javed Akhtar On Honeymoon, Drum Murder Cases
New Delhi: Lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar has questioned where society's outrage was when women were set on fire, assaulted by their husbands and tortured by their in-laws, alluding to recent cases of women killing their husbands including the widely reported honeymoon murder case in Meghalaya. Mr Akhtar, whose strong views on social and political issues often make headlines, said he has "mixed emotions" on two of the cases involving the murder of men by their wives - one in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut whose body was cut up and stuffed in a drum, and the other from Indore who was killed by his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. "Women have been set on fire. If they are not set on fire, their lives in their in-laws' homes are worse than death as they get beaten up every day. But why is society not outraged by all these? What a shameless society," Mr Akhtar said at NDTV Creators Manch. "Two women are accused of murder and society is shocked. But where was the shock for years when women were tortured by men and is still happening even today?" To a question by NDTV on the honeymoon murder case that happened soon after the couple's wedding, Mr Akhtar said the woman committed a crime, but more information needs to be asked. "What she did was very wrong. But if she did it soon after their wedding, find out whether the wedding was forced on her against her wish. It would be easy to find out," Mr Akhtar said, referring to Indore resident Sonam who hired three hitmen and killed her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. "Is it easy for a woman from a small city in Hindustan to tell her mother and father that she will not get married? Can she say that?" he said. "I am not justifying murdering anyone, including husbands," he said in a lighter vein, which drew laughter from the audience. "There was a time when many daughters-in-law were killed in pressure cooker explosions. Even the pressure cooker would recognise who is a daughter-in-law. The mother-in-law or her daughter never died," Mr Akhtar added, alluding to daughters-in-law as kitchen workers who face an occupational hazard. #NDTVCreatorsManch | "Women are burnt alive every day. If they are not burnt alive, they become victims of domestic violence. Didn't this shake the society? I am not justifying the murders": Javed Akhtar on Meghalaya Horror, Meerut drum murder @Javedakhtarjadu @MinakshiKandwal — NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2025 He has written a large number of poems against communalism and social injustice, and for women's rights. In 1995, the central government declared one of his songs that asked misguided young people to come forward and build the country the "National Anthem for Youth". He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha as an MP in 2010.
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Shabana Azmi shares pic with Javed Akhtar, jokes he's oblivious to the scenic beauty
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi recently posted a picture with her husband, famous writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, deeply focused on his writing. What caught everyone's attention was her playful caption that seemed to hint at herself being the 'scenic beauty' he was too busy to the photo on Instagram, Shabana wrote, 'The writer writes oblivious to the scenic beauty, but there is peace and serenity in this photo.'In the picture, Shabana is seen relaxing on bright green and yellow cushions, with yellow flowers tucked behind her ear, looking calm and content. In the background, Javed Akhtar appears completely immersed in his writing, holding a notebook and pen, and wearing a casual purple polo T-shirt. The peaceful outdoor setting adds to the serene holiday vibe. advertisementFans loved the picture and shared their feelings in the comments. One person wrote, 'Oblivious is a state of mind and only he who has a partner who gives all, listens to all, feels all that he feels. Can allow him to be present while not being present.' Another wrote, "Serene." Shabana and Javed got married in 1984. They first met at her father, Kaifi Azmi's house. Javed was earlier married to Honey Irani and has two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, from his first was last seen in the web series 'Dabba Cartel'. She will next appear in 'Lahore 1947', directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, alongside Sunny Deol and Ali Fazal.- EndsMust Watch
