Indian screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has stated that India has historically welcomed many iconic Pakistani artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Noor Jehan, but Pakistan has not reciprocated in the same manner, as reported by Indian media.
According to details, veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar was recently asked about the validity of the ban on Pakistani artists in Indian films, following the Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s decision to ban Fawad Khan’s upcoming film Abir Gulaal.
In his response, Javed explained that there are two perspectives to consider. Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, he noted that India has historically welcomed many iconic Pakistani artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Noor Jehan, but Pakistan has not reciprocated in the same manner.
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Javed Akhtar pointed out that despite the immense love Lata Mangeshkar received from Pakistani fans, the Pakistani system never facilitated her performances in the country, unlike India, which had offered a warm reception to Pakistani artists.
Highlighting the political implications of banning Pakistani artists, Javed Akhtar suggested that such actions may satisfy extremists on both sides, who seek to deepen the divide between the two nations and prevent Pakistanis from seeing the freedoms enjoyed by Indians.
He remarked that the question of allowing Pakistani artists into India presents two equally valid arguments, and, if necessary, one could decide by tossing a coin. He reminisced about the great reception that Pakistani singers, such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan, received in India, contrasting it with the lack of recognition given to Lata Mangeshkar in Pakistan, despite the admiration for her.
Arguing that blocking Pakistani artists could play into the hands of the Pakistani Army and fundamentalists, who benefit from a growing separation between the two nations, he acknowledged that the present moment, shaped by recent tensions like those in Pahalgam, was not the right time to address the issue.
At the end, he suggested that in the future, when relations between the two countries improve, the question could be revisited with a more positive attitude.
