‘Go to hell’: Pakistani celebrities slam Javed Akhtar over anti-Pakistan remark

After rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Bollywood poet Javed Akhtar is once again facing strong backlash from Pakistani showbiz personalities for his controversial comment: “If I have to choose between going to hell or Pakistan, I would prefer to go to hell.”

His remark sparked immediate outrage on social media, with several Pakistani celebrities responding strongly.

Actor Imran Abbas responded with sarcasm, stating, "If he had not chosen hell, he would have ended up there anyway, but maybe in the lower economy class. We gave him only business/first class; otherwise, he wasn’t worthy of any other class."

Actor Bilal Qureshi commented, "Aise logon ke liye hi kaha gaya hai: Go to Hell woh bhi Raw-fail mein."

Actor Ahsan Mohsin Ikram posted an Instagram story saying, "A moment of silence for all those Pakistani celebrities who welcomed this man with open arms. Shame on all those celebrities,  you gave respect to a man who has no respect for the country you belong to. Just for your personal benefits, you welcomed him. Shame!"

Actor Asim Mehmood also wrote, "Meri dua hai ke aapki yeh dili murad jald puri ho. InshaAllah wahin jayenge aap. Sab bolo Aameen!"

Tensions between Pakistan and India have sharply escalated following the Pahalgam incident in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir on April 22. In the early hours of May 7, India launched airstrikes in multiple regions of Pakistan, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad, reportedly killing at least 30 civilians and injuring over 40.

In response, Pakistan downed six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets marking the first time Rafales have been brought down in combat. The following day, over 30 Indian drones were reportedly shot down across Pakistani territory.

On the night of May 9, India launched missile strikes on Pakistani airbases. In retaliation, Pakistan initiated Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos at dawn on May 10, targeting several Indian military installations. Key strikes included a BrahMos missile depot in Beas, an airbase in Adampur, and an airfield in Pathankot. Pakistani drones reportedly reached New Delhi, while JF-17 fighter jets destroyed India’s S-400 missile defence system in Adampur.

After a strong retaliation from Pakistan, India agreed to a ceasefire on the same day.