Javed Akhtar on culture vs religion: 'We will not leave our culture because of religion'
Synopsis
A resurfaced video of Javed Akhtar arguing that culture predates and outranks religion has gone viral again — a reminder that the veteran lyricist, a self-declared atheist who hosts Bollywood's biggest Holi party, has long made the case that India's festivals belong to civilisation, not to any faith.
Key Takeaways
Javed Akhtar , a self-declared atheist, argued in a resurfaced video that culture and religion are fundamentally separate.
He stated that festivals like Holi and Diwali were created by culture and later absorbed by religions, citing anthropology.
Akhtar hosts one of Bollywood's biggest annual Holi celebrations despite having no religious belief.
Actress Shabana Azmi shared a photo of Akhtar writing in Urdu by hand in his study, drawing praise from actress Urmila Matondkar .
Born in 1945 in Gwalior , Akhtar comes from a family of writers; his father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a noted Urdu poet and film songwriter.
Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has long maintained that culture and religion are distinct forces — and that across history, religions have absorbed, rather than created, the festivals and traditions people hold dear. A resurfaced video of the Mumbai-based writer has reignited that conversation, drawing renewed attention to his views on identity, faith, and celebration.
What Akhtar Said
In the video, Akhtar reflected on how personal identity is shaped both by self-perception and by how the world perceives a person. 'A man is not just what he understands about himself, but also how he is understood by the world,' he said. 'I have no religious belief whatsoever. But on Eid, I receive the wishes. I don't celebrate Bakri Eid, but I still receive the wishes. We celebrate Eid, we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Holi, we celebrate Diwali. The biggest Holi of our film industry is hosted at our home. But we consider it as our culture.'
He went further, arguing that the popular festivals associated with religion predate organised faith itself. 'If you ask any anthropologist, these festivals are not made by religions. These festivals were made by culture. And religions took them inside,' he said. 'This is the culture of India. We will not leave our culture because of religion.'
The Atheist Who Hosts Holi
Javed Akhtar, a self-declared atheist, is widely known for hosting one of Bollywood's most celebrated annual Holi gatherings. His participation in festivals across religious lines is, by his own account, a cultural act rather than a spiritual one — a distinction he has drawn consistently over the years. This is not the first time his remarks on religion and culture have sparked public debate; Akhtar has been a vocal commentator on secularism and identity for decades.
A Glimpse Into His World
Separately, his wife, veteran actress Shabana Azmi, recently shared a photograph of Akhtar at work in his study — writing in Urdu, longhand, with pen and paper. The image, captioned 'The writer in his study..', drew a response from actress Urmila Matondkar, who called him 'The Legend..in his study.' The detail was notable: in an era of AI-assisted writing, one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated lyricists continues to draft by hand.
Background and Legacy
Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior. He comes from a distinguished literary lineage — his father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a celebrated songwriter in Hindi films and a noted Urdu poet. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Akhtar has written some of Indian cinema's most enduring lyrics and screenplays, cementing his place as one of the industry's foremost voices on culture and public life.
As the video continues to circulate, it serves as a reminder that the debate over where culture ends and religion begins remains as relevant — and as contested — as ever in India.
Point of View
But its recirculation points to something persistent: in India's ongoing culture wars, his framing — that festivals are civilisational, not confessional — cuts across the usual fault lines and discomfits both religious hardliners and identity-politics practitioners. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that his position is not merely personal atheism; it is a specific intellectual claim about the historical origins of popular culture. Whether one agrees or not, it is a claim that deserves engagement on its merits rather than being reduced to a celebrity soundbite.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Javed Akhtar say about culture and religion?
Javed Akhtar argued that culture and religion are separate, and that festivals like Holi and Diwali were originally created by culture before being absorbed by religions. He cited anthropology to support the claim that organised faith did not originate these celebrations.
Is Javed Akhtar an atheist?
Yes, Javed Akhtar has publicly identified as an atheist for many years. Despite holding no religious belief, he participates in and hosts festivals across religious traditions, describing this as a cultural rather than spiritual practice.
Why does Javed Akhtar host a Holi party if he is an atheist?
Akhtar has explained that he views Holi as a cultural celebration, not a religious one. He hosts one of Bollywood's most prominent annual Holi gatherings, arguing that participating in such festivals is an expression of Indian cultural identity independent of faith.
Who is Javed Akhtar?
Javed Akhtar is a veteran Indian screenwriter and lyricist born in 1945 in Gwalior. He comes from a literary family — his father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a noted Urdu poet and Hindi film songwriter. Over five decades, Akhtar has written some of Indian cinema's most celebrated lyrics and scripts.
What was the Shabana Azmi post about Javed Akhtar?
Shabana Azmi shared a photograph of Javed Akhtar writing in Urdu by hand in his study, captioning it 'The writer in his study..'. Actress Urmila Matondkar responded, calling him 'The Legend..in his study'. The image highlighted Akhtar's preference for pen-and-paper drafting in an era of AI-assisted writing.
