Bushra Ansari, a rare breed of veteran actress and comedian from Pakistan, has raised eyebrows with her ferocious tirade against Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar, who has recently made highly charged remarks about Pakistan during a trip to Pahalgam, India. With her fiery condemnation, wildly stereotyping Akhtar by associating his name with death and calling for him to hush up, her statement has generated further debate on both sides of the border.
What the Issue Is
Famously the one who speaks his mind, Javed Akhtar has gone to Pahalgam, India, where he appears to have ridiculed Pakistan’s involvement in regional conflicts–allegations concerning terrorism and cross-border linkages. Although his actual words haven’t been subject to official transcription, they seem to have provided enough reason for Bushra Ansari to hurl fiery rebuttals.
Bushra Ansari’s Reaction to Akhtar
Bushra Ansari went on her social media platform to express her anger and dismay over Akhtar never shying from making political commentary, especially bringing up sensitive matters during international trips. In an Instagram post that has since gone viral, she wrote:
“Javed Akhtar Sahib, you are about to die anyway- why not leave with some grace and kindness?”
She not only criticized his behavior by comparing it with that of notable Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah, who has decided more often to remain silent or give obscured criticism of the Indo-Pak issues. Among other things, she remarked, “Be quiet like Naseeruddin Shah,” foregoing an appeal for maturity and dignity from artists of Akhtar’s age and stature.
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Public Reactions
Since her statement was made public, there has been an outpouring of opinions on social media. Supporters argue that Ansari merely voiced the frustrations of many Pakistanis who feel unfairly targeted in cross-border dialogues. Detractors, however, believe that her comments crossed a line and risk damaging the potential for future collaboration between Indian and Pakistani artists.
Concluding Remarks
The war of words between Bushra Ansari and Javed Akhtar presents a picture of how delicate and stillborn cultural diplomacy stands between India and Pakistan. Their deeply intertwined historic and artistic relations notwithstanding, the political grudge seeps in the form of a wedge, thereby turning beautiful bridges into tanks fighting over territory.
