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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar compares alcohol with religion: 'People never stop at two pegs, dharm mein bhi bas thoda sa nahi rehta'
Javed Akhtar has confessed in the past that he was an alcoholic but he overcame that habit. He hasn't touched alcohol for many years now. In a recent conversation, Akhtar has compared religion with alcohol. When asked if alcohol is good or bad, he said that too much of anything can be bad. Just little bit of something is not bad but the problem is that people don't stop at little. He added that while people stop at two glasses of milk, they cannot stop at two glasses of alcohol. He said on Aaj Tak Radio, "Alcohol and religion have a lot in common. The Americans did a survey once, about who lives longer; the person who doesn't drink or the person who drinks an entire bottle every day. It was discovered that neither have longetivity. Those who live the longest are the ones who strictly have two pegs before their dinner. Medicines have alcohol, how can it be so bad? What's bad is overconsumption. If a person has two glasses of milk, it's fine. But if he has two glasses of whiskey, it's not okay. People never stop at two." He said further, "Agar aadmi mein thoda sa dharm ho toh aadmi theek rehta hai. Par woh thoda sa nahi rehta hai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Do peg dharm bhi theek hai, do peg daru bhi theek hai lekin woh nahi rehta isiliye usse door rehna padta hai. (If a person has a little bit of religion, he is good, but he isn't limited to just a bit. Two pegs of religion is also okay. Two pegs of alcohol is also okay. The problem is that a person doesn't stop at just two pegs, that's why one has to be away from it). " He had spoken about being an alcoholic during a chat with Arbaaz Khan and said, "Main isliye peeta tha ki main enjoy karta tha (I drank because I enjoyed it), it was a pleasure. I was not drowning any sorrow in it. Magar mujhe ek baat samajh mein aayi, common sense kehta hai ki 52-53 tak mujhe marr jana chahiye, if this is how I drink. Isse upar umar meri jani nahi chahiye with this kind of drinking (But I understood one thing, common sense dictates that with this kind of drinking I would die by 52-53). '
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Javed Akhtar compares religion to alcohol, says both are fine but only in moderation: ‘Two pegs are never enough'
Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, a noted atheist who often speaks against organised religion, addressed the topic once again in a recent interview. Comparing religion to alcohol, he said that both are fine as long as they're consumed in moderation, but they are rarely consumed responsibly. Appearing on Aaj Tak Radio, Javed said that two pegs of whiskey in a day are actually beneficial; the trouble arises only because people aren't able to stop at just two pegs. Javed has been sober for many decades, and has spoken often about the regret he feels about having wasted several years of his life to alcohol. He said, 'Alcohol and religion have a lot in common. The Americans did a survey once, about who lives longer; the person who doesn't drink or the person who drinks an entire bottle every day. It was discovered that neither is advisable. Those who live the longest are the ones who strictly have two pegs before their dinner. Medicines have alcohol, how can it be so bad? What's bad is overconsumption. If a person has two glasses of milk, it's fine. But if he has two glasses of whiskey, it's not okay. People never stop at two, do they? They don't go overboard with milk, but they go overboard with whiskey and religion. It becomes harmful. A few cancer cells will keep you slim, but they'll multiply and kill you.' Also read – 'Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan made a pro-India statement in front of Pakistani diplomats, he was a courageous man': Javed Akhtar recalls anecdote In an interaction with mid-day, he recalled the measures he took after discovering that he'd lost an appetite for whiskey. 'I got allergic to whiskey. Then, I thought that I must have only beer. However, I used to drink 18 bottles of beer in only one sitting. Fir mujhe laga ki yaar yeh kya pet phoola raha hun main apna (Why am I increasing my belly fat with beer)? So, I quit it and started drinking rum.' On Arbaaz Khan's show, he said that he'd drink for pleasure, and not because he wanted to drown his sorrows. 'Main isliye peeta tha ki main enjoy karta tha (I drank because I enjoyed it), it was a pleasure. I was not drowning any sorrow in it. Magar mujhe ek baat samajh mein aayi, common sense kehta hai ki 52-53 tak mujhe marr jana chahiye, if this is how I drink. Isse upar umar meri jani nahi chahiye with this kind of drinking (But I understood one thing, common sense dictates that with this kind of drinking I would die by 52-53).' He has been equally vocal about his dislike for all sorts of religions. Some years ago, he had an argument with the spiritual leader Sadhguru. 'Anything that is devoid of reason, rationale, evidence, witness is faith. I really wonder what is the difference between faith and stupidity, because stupidity has the same definition. I am willing to accept 'belief', but it has to have rationale,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar praises late singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's fearless pro-India stand in Pakistan: 'He was courageous'
Javed Akhtar praised Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's courage and talent, recalling their collaboration and Nusrat's bold remarks about India-Pakistan cultural ties. Despite controversy over his political views, Akhtar's admiration remains strong, honoring Nusrat's legacy and lamenting his untimely death before a major international breakthrough. Javed Akhtar has once more reflected on the enduring cultural ties between India and Pakistan . He warmly recalls his profound respect for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan , the iconic Pakistani qawwali legend, emphasizing the power of shared artistic heritage. Controversy and Unwavering Respect Earlier, Javed Akhtar received appreciation in India but faced backlash in Pakistan for openly criticizing Pakistan's history of providing refuge to those responsible for attacks like 26/11 during his visit to Lahore. Despite this, he firmly states that his admiration for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan remains "untarnished." While speaking on AajTak Radio, Akhtar shared a moving story from a music launch event in Delhi that revealed Nusrat's remarkable "candour and courage. " Javed's collaboration with Nusrat Javed openly admitted, 'I'm not a huge fan of qawwali as a genre, but I was a great admirer of Nusrat. He was a lovely man. We worked together on an album titled Sangam — I wrote it, he composed it." He fondly recalled an event at a luxury hotel in Delhi where Nusrat spoke to a full house, with officials from the Pakistan High Commission seated prominently in the front row. Nusrat's Bold Words to the Pakistan High Commission 'Nusrat was asked to say a few words. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Най-продаваните ежедневни обувки това лято – виж защо! ZAROTRAVEL® КУПИ СЕГА Undo He said, 'I travel all over the world, but the reception I get in India is unmatched. I hang my head in shame when people ask me why my country hasn't hosted Lata Mangeshkar. I'm saying this here because I want the people from the Pakistan High Commission to pay attention,'" Javed recalled. Javed Akhtar showers praise Akhtar considered that incident as an extraordinary demonstration of courage. He remarked, 'It takes conviction, daring, and honesty to make such a statement. For me, as an Indian, it's not a big deal to say this. But for a Pakistani to say this on Indian soil and then return home — that's incredibly courageous." He went on to express his heartfelt admiration for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, saying, 'I have nothing but love and admiration for Nusrat. He died so young. He was on his way to America to sign a record deal with none other than Madonna. Who knows what more greatness he would have achieved had he lived longer."
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Javed Akhtar Recalls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Brave Pro-India Remark To Pakistan: 'He Was Courageous'
Last Updated: Javed Akhtar recalls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's bold statement to Pakistani officials, praising India's warmth and criticizing Pakistan for ignoring Lata Mangeshkar. Veteran writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar has once again revisited the long-standing conversation around the cultural exchange between India and Pakistan, while fondly remembering his deep admiration for legendary Pakistani qawwali maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Though Akhtar had earlier drawn applause in India — and criticism across the border — for calling out Pakistan's history of sheltering perpetrators of attacks like 26/11 during an appearance in Lahore, he maintains that his respect for Nusrat remains untarnished. Speaking on AajTak Radio, Akhtar shared a poignant anecdote from a music launch in Delhi that highlighted Nusrat's candour and courage. 'I'm not a huge fan of qawwali as a genre," Akhtar admitted, 'but I was a great admirer of Nusrat. He was a lovely man. We worked together on an album titled Sangam — I wrote it, he composed it." Recalling the event held at a five-star hotel in Delhi, Akhtar described how Nusrat addressed a packed audience, including dignitaries from the Pakistan High Commission seated in the front row. 'Nusrat was asked to say a few words. He said, 'I travel all over the world, but the reception I get in India is unmatched. I hang my head in shame when people ask me why my country hasn't hosted Lata Mangeshkar. I'm saying this here because I want the people from the Pakistan High Commission to pay attention,'" Javed recalled. Akhtar described the moment as a rare act of bravery. 'It takes conviction, daring, and honesty to make such a statement. For me, as an Indian, it's not a big deal to say this. But for a Pakistani to say this on Indian soil and then return home — that's incredibly courageous," he said, adding, 'I have nothing but love and admiration for Nusrat. He died so young. He was on his way to America to sign a record deal with none other than Madonna. Who knows what more greatness he would have achieved had he lived longer." Born in 1948, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away in 1997 at the age of just 48. Javed noted that Nusrat was one of the few South Asian artists whose appeal transcended borders, regularly selling out concerts not just among the diaspora, but among Western audiences as well. After the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, Akhtar reiterated his stance on the imbalance in cross-border artistic engagement. 'It has been one-way traffic. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Noor Jahan — all came to India and were welcomed with open arms. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, when he visited India during the Vajpayee era, was treated with the respect reserved for a head of state," he said in an interview with PTI. First Published:
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan made a pro-India statement in front of Pakistani diplomats, he was a courageous man': Javed Akhtar recalls anecdote
Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar made headlines a few years ago, when he reminded a gathering of Pakistanis in Lahore that Indians cannot ignore the nationalities of the perpetrators of various terror attacks over the years. He said that he was in Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks, and that he watched his city burn. He also reminded the crowd that while India has rolled out the red carpet for Pakistani artists such as the singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Pakistan hasn't extended the same courtesy to Indian singers. He said that Lata Mangeshkar was by far the most popular celebrity in Pakistan, but she was never invited to perform there. His comments were praised by Indians, but the incident hasn't diminished his admiration for Nusrat. In a recent interview, he recalled an anecdote about meeting Nusrat at an event in Delhi, and what transpired there. Appearing on AajTak Radio, he said, 'I'm not a big fan of qawwali, but I was a huge admirer of Nusrat. He was a lovely man. We worked on an album together, called Sangam. I wrote it, he composed it. It was released at a big five-star hotel in New Delhi. A delegation from the Pakistan high commission was seated in the front row. Nusrat was asked to say a few words, and he said, 'I travel all over the world, but the reception I get in India is unmatched. I hang my head in shame when people ask me why my country hasn't hosted Lata Mangeshkar. I'm saying this here because I want the people from the Pakistan high commission to pay attention'.' Also read – Javed Akhtar accused Sadhguru of 'playing dangerous game' with devotees: 'He's using his brain, doesn't want you to use yours' Javed said that it takes 'conviction' and 'daring' and 'honesty' to make such statements. 'For me to say this isn't a big deal; I'm an Indian. But for a Pakistani to say this to his own people, and then return to Pakistan, it was an extremely courageous statement to make,' he said. Javed reiterated that he has nothing but love and admiration for Nusrat. 'I went for his condolence meet as well, after he died. And he died so young. He happened to be in London while on his way to America, and he died there. He was going to America to sign a record deal with none other than Madonna. Who knows what greatness he would have accomplished had he lived longer.' Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born in 1948. He died at the age of 48 in the year 1997. Javed pointed out that he was one of the first South Asian artistes who could sell out shows overseas, not among the diaspora, but among the local population. Shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, Javed Akhtar repeated his sentiment about cross-border exchange of art. 'It has been a one way traffic, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Noor Jahan came to India, we gave them a great reception. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, who is a poet of subcontinent, he was living in Pakistan, when he came to India during the AB Vajpayee regime, he was treated like a state head, the kind of respect given by the government,' he told news agency PTI.
