Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has revealed that he was approached to write songs for the upcoming sequel Border 2, but chose to decline the offer, questioning the creative direction behind the film’s music. In an interview ahead of the film’s January 23 release, Akhtar explained that his decision stemmed from his discomfort with the reliance on reworked versions of songs from the original Border (1997). “They did ask me to write for the film, but I refused. I really feel this is a kind of intellectual and creative bankruptcy,” he said during an exclusive chat with India Today.
Javed Akhtar reveals he REFUSED to write songs for Border 2, calls reworks “creative bankruptcy”: “What is the need to recreate it?”
The chord struck by the lyricist relates to the new soundtrack, much of which consists of reimagined tracks from the original movie. Akhtar said, “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.”
Akhtar further questioned the need to recreate past music in a new film. Drawing a parallel with other cinematic works, he pointed to the 1964 film Haqeeqat, whose songs, despite being exceptional, were not reused when films referencing similar themes came along later. “Whatever is bygone, let that be. What is the need to recreate it?… 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. We will live with past glory,” he added.
Akhtar also touched on the broader trend of relying on nostalgia in Bollywood music, suggesting that filmmakers could aim to “create new nostalgia then,” rather than leaning on earlier successes.
Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh and starring Sunny Deol alongside Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, has been among the most anticipated Bollywood releases of 2026. The film’s music launch, featuring revamped versions of classics such as ‘Sandese Aate Hain’, drew reactions from fans — with many praising the attempt to evoke nostalgia, while others questioned the creative choice.
More Pages: Border 2 Box Office CollectionTags : Border, Border 2, Down Memory Lane, Down The Memory Lane, Features, Flashback, J.P. Films, Javed Akhtar, Music, Song, T-Series, Throwback
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