I believe fundamentalists abusing me, says Javed Akhtar

(Web Desk) – Celebrated poet, lyricist, and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has said he gets hate mail from both Hindu and Muslim hardliners.

“I get hate mail from both sides,” Akhtar told the media. “I believe as long as both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists are abusing me, I am doing something right. My name, Javed Akhtar, has nothing to do with Islam. Both the words are Persian. It is only in India that names are associated with religion.”

He also clarified that his name, Javed Akhtar, is of Persian origin and not tied to religion. Calling himself an atheist, he expressed his love for Kolkata and praised its liberal, progressive spirit.

The veteran writer has often found himself in the middle of controversies, and this time it was in Kolkata. The West Bengal Urdu Academy invited him as the chief guest for a literary programme, Urdu in Hindi Cinema, but later withdrew the invitation after objections from certain religious groups.

The event, planned from August 31 to September 3, was called off citing “unavoidable circumstances.”