Hyderabad: While Bollywood remains in the limelight for its films, sometimes it also comes in the headlines for keeping silence on some important issues. Many times the question has been raised that why Bollywood does not say anything against the government? Famous screenwriter, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has answered this question. He has told the real reason behind this. So let’s know what Javed Akhtar has to say on this question…
In an interview on a YouTube channel, Javed Akhtar was asked that earlier actors used to raise their voice against the government, but why no star raises his voice in today’s times? On this Javed Akhtar says, ‘Do you really want to know about it, do you have no idea about it?’ On this the interviewer agrees.
Talking about this, Javed Akhtar says, ‘This is nothing. They have many names but what is their economic state? A middle class industry can keep all these film industries in its pocket. Who among the big people, who has money, speaks? Is there anyone who defends them? There are so many big empires there.’
On this the interviewer says, ‘Because ED will reach there? What is your view on that?’ On this Javed Akhtar says, ‘We look like this. Meryl Streep gave such a big statement (against the US government) at the Oscars, but there was no Income Tax raid on her. So this insecurity, whether she is real or not, why should I get into this debate, this is just perception. So if this perception, this fear is in the heart, then the person will be afraid. Brother, how will ED come, CBI will come, Income Tax will come. They will open our files, will interrogate us. So these are all problems. These problems are not of the film industry, these problems are from outside the film industry.’
He also said that even though Bollywood stars are famous, they live in society like everyone else and face the same risks. He said, ‘Their lives may be more luxurious, but their fears are the same. I might speak up, but I understand why others remain silent.’
Javed Akhtar is one of the few people in the film industry who openly criticize the government. In the last few years, he has faced a lot of trolling for his views.
Javed Akhtar had earlier talked about the hatred he is receiving in a conversation with a news agency and said, ‘Even my friends say, ‘Let it be. Why do you want to get into this? You are above all these things.’ Forgive me for my shamelessness, I mostly feel above them, but sometimes you have to come down and tell them, ‘No, you cannot take this freedom, and if you want, I will return the coins to you.'”
What was Streep’s statement?
Meryl Streep is mentioned in Javed Akhtar’s interview. Let us tell you, in 2017, Streep’s speech at an award event was in the headlines. While accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, she said, ‘There was a performance this year that surprised me. It made its way into my heart, not because it was good, but because there was nothing good in it. But it was effective and it did its job. It was the moment when the man who asked to sit on the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter. A person whom he surpasses in privilege, power and ability to fight back. It broke my heart.’
