Pakistani celebrities condemn Javed Akhtar’s comments, saying, “Stay in hell.”

Veteran Indian poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar’s controversial declaration that he would rather go to hell than visit Pakistan has caused a great deal of resentment among Pakistani celebrities and social media users.

Given Akhtar’s prior trips to Pakistan, where he attended a number of cultural events, including the Faiz Festival, the statement, which was made during a news conference in India, has drawn strong criticism in Pakistan.

When asked about the criticism he gets from audiences in Pakistan and India, Akhtar said, “People from both sides abuse me.” I’m called a jihadi and told to travel to Pakistan by one side, while I’m called an infidel and warned of hell by the other. I would rather go to hell than travel to Pakistan if I had to choose between the two.

Actors and famous figures in Pakistan’s entertainment sector have reacted negatively to the remark, accusing the lyricist of being disrespectful and hypocritical.

“Javed Akhtar has picked the ideal location for himself,” said veteran actress Mishi Khan on Instagram. No one in Pakistan will extend another invitation to him. And those who used to sit at his feet and recite his praises ought to go to hell with him.

Imran Abbas, an actor with international experience, also gave a scathing response. “He will go to hell whether he chooses to or not,” Abbas wrote. “He’ll most likely be in the economy area, which is the sole difference. He wasn’t even deserving of an economy ticket, but we welcomed him in business class.

More discreetly, senior actress Hina Khawaja Bayat said, “You have to be ready for everything wherever you go, don’t you?

“May his heartfelt wish come true soon,” actor Asim Mehmood said in a caustic prayer in reaction to Akhtar’s remarks.

Sharmila Farooqui, a former MPA and PPP leader, also voiced her dissatisfaction, describing the comments as “deeply disrespectful.”

Javed Akhtar has made several trips to Pakistan, most notably to Lahore for the Faiz Festival, where he was lauded and welcomed. But in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in recent years, the poem has taken on a more critical tone, which many in Pakistan now perceive as opportunistic or politically driven.

Additionally, social media users have viewed earlier videos of Akhtar’s appearances in Pakistan again, emphasising the discrepancy between his recent remarks and the kindness he received.

His new remarks have further damaged his connection with the Pakistani public, with many now claiming that his presence in the nation is unwanted, even though the lyricist is still regarded as a great figure in Indian literary and film circles.