Javed Akhtar cashes in on his ‘heroics’ in Pakistan

Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar has said that he has never been scared of speaking his mind in his own country, therefore he had no reason to be afraid while doing so in a country he was visiting for a few days.
Javed Akhtar, who is receiving flak from Pakistani celebrities and praises from Indian counterparts for his latest comment during an event, has now opened up on whether he was scared of speaking his mind there. 

Javed Akhtar recently attended a festival honouring writer Faiz Ahmed Faiz, in Lahore where he was told that Indians think all Pakistanis are terrorists. Javed gave a stern reply and said the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks continue to roam freely in Pakistan. He has since been at the centre of the controversy - Pakistani celebs have slammed him.

Speaking at an ABP event, Javed repeated his statement from that event and added, "It became too big, it feels embarrassing, feel like I should not go (for such events). Yaha aya to laga pata nahi third World War jeet ke aya hoon (as if I won the third world war). The people and the media have so many reactions. I was embarrassed aisa kya keh diya? Itni baat to kehni paregi, chup rahein kya (we have to say as much, should we just shut up)?"

He said he has now received messages informing him that people in Pakistan being questioned on how he even got a visa, and added that he may only recall the place now (suggesting that he may not ever get to go back again).

Asked if he felt scared to speak his mind while sitting in Lahore, at an event being held in a hall full of Pakistani people, Javed said, "Is tarah ki baatein, jo controversial hain...jis mulk mein paida hue, jeete hain aur marenge waha karte rehte hain to dusre mulk me do din jana waha kya dar tha? Jab yaha nahi darte to waha kya darenge (I make such controversial comments in the country where I was born and will die, why would I be scared in a country I was visiting for two days? I am not scared here, why would I be scared there)?"

Also Read: Ali Safina amuses fans with hilarious poetry in Javed Akhtar’s honour