Tensions between India and Pakistan are spilling into the public sphere, with celebrities and media personalities from both sides weighing in on sensitive issues. Recently, veteran actress Bushra Ansari called out India’s outspoken Javed Akhtar in a video message that has since gone viral.
While on a fundraising tour in Germany and Switzerland, Bushra Ansari posted a video online, urging Javed Akhtar to avoid making inflammatory statements without evidence. She criticized the tendency of some Indian personalities to blame Pakistan for incidents in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly after the tragic April 22 attack that left 26 people dead.
She questioned the credibility of such claims and highlighted the need for responsible dialogue. “What drama are you playing, India?” she asked in her video. Ansari also pointed out issues with Indian policies, such as the treatment of women who have lived in India for decades but are now being forced to leave.
In the middle of her message, Bushra Ansari made a pointed reference to Javed Akhtar, the Indian lyricist known for his outspoken views. She recalled his past struggles in Mumbai and suggested that he often seeks attention by making controversial statements. “You have a few hours to live — and still talk nonsense,” she remarked, urging him to show restraint and dignity in his public comments. Ansari even suggested that Akhtar should follow the example of actor Naseeruddin Shah, who she said chooses to remain silent on such matters.
Bushra Ansari didn’t stop there. She also criticized Indian media personalities and former military officials, including television host Arnab Goswami and a retired Indian Army officer, calling them “venomous voices” that contribute to division and hostility in the region. However, she clarified that not all Indians share these views, sharing a recent positive encounter with an Indian woman who expressed warmth and friendship. “It’s not the people — it’s the governments and these extreme voices poisoning minds,” she said.
The controversy began after Javed Akhtar, during an event in Maharashtra, called for a stronger response from India’s government against Pakistan, following the attack in Pahalgam. He urged the authorities to take “a solid step” and criticized Pakistan’s military leadership, saying they should be given a “befitting reply.”
