Javed Akhtar on turning down Border 2: `Intellectual and creative bankruptcy`

Anurag Singh’s directorial Border 2 is all set to hit theatres on January 23. Ahead of the release, the makers held a grand launch for the song Ghar Kab Aaoge, a reworked version of the iconic track Sandese Aate Hain from the original Border. Most of the songs in the film are reworked versions of tracks from the 1997 classic, evoking nostalgia among audiences. Composer Anu Malik and lyricist Javed Akhtar had collaborated on the music of Border (1997).

Javed Akhtar on refusing Border 2

Several fans of the original film wondered why Javed Akhtar was not associated with the sequel. It has now emerged that the veteran lyricist was approached to write songs for Border 2 but declined the offer.

Explaining his decision, Akhtar told India Today, “They did ask me to write for the film, but I refused. 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.”

Lyricist questions recreation of music

The lyricist further questioned the need to recreate old songs. “Whatever is bygone, let that be. What is the need to recreate it? We also had a film before us — Haqeeqat (1964) — and its songs were not ordinary ones. Be it ‘Kar Chale Hum Fida’ or ‘Main Yeh Sochkar Uske Dar Se Utha Tha’. Those were brilliant songs, but we didn’t use them. We wrote new ones and made completely different songs, and people liked them too. If you are making a film again, create new songs. Why are you depending on the past? You have accepted that you can’t do it and will live with past glory."

More about Border 2

Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series in association with J.P. Dutta`s J.P. Films. The film that stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh. The patriotic war saga is set to hit cinemas on January 23, 2026.