Lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar recently sparked a social media firestorm after a video clip from one of his talks began circulating widely. In the footage, Akhtar reflects on a scene from the classic film Sholay, where Hema Malini’s character Basanti addresses Lord Shiva, and questions whether such scenes could be written today amid heightened sensitivity around religion. During his discussion, Akhtar reportedly said,
“I was in Poona (Pune) with Raju Hirani (Rajkumar Hirani) in front of a big audience where I told them, ‘Don’t become like Muslims. Make them like yourself. You are becoming like Muslims.’
”The comment immediately drew intense backlash, with many accusing Akhtar of offending religious sentiments. Among the critics was renowned singer-songwriter Lucky Ali, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong disapproval.
His blunt tweet read,
“Don’t become like Javed Akhtar, never original and ugly as f*.”**Lucky Ali’s sharp response quickly went viral, igniting mixed reactions. Some praised him for candidly voicing his opinion, while others felt his tone was overly harsh. The exchange soon evolved into a broader debate online about tolerance, free speech, and respect among public figures.
“Don’t become like Javed Akhtar, never original and ugly as f*.”**Lucky Ali’s sharp response quickly went viral, igniting mixed reactions. Some praised him for candidly voicing his opinion, while others felt his tone was overly harsh. The exchange soon evolved into a broader debate online about tolerance, free speech, and respect among public figures.
You can check the screenshot of their debate as we share it as under, have a look:
In response to the growing criticism after the video resurfaced, Javed Akhtar remained unfazed. He noted that he has long faced backlash for his outspoken views, mentioning he has even received police protection at times and endured name-calling over the years.
As the controversy continues to trend, both Lucky Ali and Javed Akhtar have become focal points of discussions across social media, underscoring how commentary on religion remains a deeply sensitive and polarizing issue in India’s cultural discourse. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us and comment below your thoughts.
