Javed Akhtar REACTS To Being Called Kaafir, Jihadi: ‘I’d Rather Go To Hell Than Pakistan’

At the launch of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s latest book Narkatla Swarg in Mumbai, veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar delivered a powerful and personal reflection on the backlash he faces from different ends of the ideological spectrum.

This comes at a time India-Pakistan tensions are at a peak following India’s Operation Sindoor, targeted missile strikes on Pakistan’s terror camps, after a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

While addressing the crowd, Javed Akhtar recalled the hostility he often receives due to his outspoken views — not just from one community, but from both Hindus and Muslims. “People from both sides abuse me. One calls me a Kaafir (infidel), saying that I will go to hell. The other calls me a Jihadi, asking me to go to Pakistan. So, If I only have a choice of going either to hell or to Pakistan, I would rather like to go to hell,” he said, drawing a mix of laughter and applause from the audience.

He further clarified that the criticism he receives is not one-sided. “People from both sides abuse me. It’s not one-sided. I would be very ungrateful if I don’t admit that there are people who also appreciate me. Many support me, praise me, and encourage me,” he said, acknowledging the positive reception he receives as well.

Still, he made it clear that abuse from extremists has become a consistent part of his life. “But this is also true that the extremists from this side abuse me so do the extremists from the other side. This is the reality. If even one of them stops abusing me, I will call it an anomaly and think that I must have made a mistake,” he said.

Akhtar, who served a six-year term in the Rajya Sabha from 2010 to 2016 as a presidential nominee, has long been known for his bold commentary on religion, politics and society.

Narkatla Swarg, the book being launched, chronicles Sanjay Raut’s journey through political upheavals and personal experiences, offering insights into Maharashtra’s contemporary political landscape. The event was attended by several prominent leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, among others.