Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has finally broken his silence on why he is not part of the highly anticipated sequel, Border 2. In a candid revelation that has sent ripples through the film industry, the legendary poet described the trend of reworking old classics as a sign of “intellectual and creative bankruptcy.”
As the makers of Border 2 recently launched a reworked version of the iconic 1997 track “Sandese Aate Hain,” titled “Ghar Kab Aaoge,” fans noticed the glaring absence of the original duo, Javed Akhtar and composer Anu Malik. While social media was flooded with demands to bring back the original creators, Akhtar revealed that he was indeed approached by the filmmakers—but he chose to walk away.
Speaking about his decision to decline the project, Akhtar did not mince words. He questioned the necessity of leaning on past successes rather than creating something fresh for a new generation.
“They did ask me to write for the film, but I refused,” Akhtar stated. “I really feel this is a kind of intellectual and creative bankruptcy. You have an old song that did well, and you want to put it out again by adding something? Make new songs, or else accept that you cannot do the same level of work.”
The lyricist, who won a National Award for his work on the original Border, argued that every film carries a specific magic tied to its time. By rehashing old hits, he believes filmmakers are admitting they cannot match the glory of the past. When suggested that remixes are a marketing strategy to trigger nostalgia, his response was sharp: “You create new nostalgia then.”
To illustrate his point, Akhtar drew a parallel with the original Border (1997). He reminded critics and fans that when he and director J.P. Dutta were making the first film, they also had a legendary war film before them: the 1964 classic Haqeeqat.
That film featured timeless songs like “Kar Chale Hum Fida.” Instead of “borrowing” those legendary tracks to ensure a hit, Akhtar and the team chose to write entirely new poetry. They created “Sandese Aate Hain,” which became a national anthem for soldiers and their families.
“We didn’t use them. We wrote new ones, we made absolutely different songs, and people liked them too,” he added.
The release of the Border 2 soundtrack has sparked a heated debate online. While some younger listeners enjoy the modern production, many long-time fans feel the “soul” and emotional depth of the original lyrics are missing in the new versions.
The film, directed by Anurag Singh and starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh, is scheduled to hit theaters on January 23, 2026. However, the absence of Akhtar’s pen has left a void that many feel cannot be filled by “reworked” lines. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
