Javed Akhtar on Hindu culture: 'They allow you to believe anything'
Synopsis
Javed Akhtar — an avowed atheist — is being widely quoted for calling Hindu culture's openness to belief the very foundation of Indian democracy. His argument that festivals like Holi and Diwali are products of civilisation, not religion, and that culture must not be surrendered to dogma, cuts through India's identity debates with rare clarity.
Key Takeaways
Javed Akhtar , a self-declared atheist, praised Hindu culture for allowing people to 'say anything, listen to anything and believe anything.' He credited this openness as the value system behind India's democracy , saying democracy does not exist 'till the Mediterranean coast' beyond India.
Akhtar hosts the biggest Holi celebration in the Hindi film industry at his home every year, framing it as cultural — not religious — participation.
He argued that festivals like Holi and Diwali were created by culture and later adopted by religion, citing anthropological reasoning.
The old video has resurfaced online, reigniting discussion on identity, secularism, and cultural belonging in India.
Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has drawn renewed attention after an old video resurfaced online in which he speaks at length about the beauty of Hindu culture, its tradition of openness, and the link between cultural values and democracy in India. The clip, which has been widely circulated, captures Akhtar articulating why he believes Hindu civilisational values underpin the country's democratic character.
What Akhtar Said About Hindu Culture
In the video, Akhtar made a pointed observation about the pluralistic nature of Hindu tradition. 'What is so beautiful about Hindu community and Hindu culture and Hindu tradition? It is that they allow you to say anything, listen to anything and believe anything,' he said. He went further, linking this cultural openness directly to India's democratic fabric: 'And this is the value system because of which there is democracy in this country. And if you leave this country, you don't get democracy till the Mediterranean coast.'
The statement is notable coming from Akhtar, who has publicly identified as an atheist for decades and has been an outspoken voice on secularism and rationalism in public discourse.
Culture vs Religion: A Distinction Akhtar Has Long Drawn
A separate video of Akhtar — also previously viral — shows him making a clear distinction between culture and religion, an argument he has consistently advanced in public conversations. '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,' he said.
Akhtar noted that the biggest Holi celebration in the Hindi film industry is hosted at his home every year — a tradition he frames not as religious observance but as cultural participation. 'We consider it as our culture,' he said.
Festivals Belong to Culture, Not Religion
Akhtar elaborated on the anthropological roots of festivals, arguing that celebrations like Holi and Diwali predate organised religion. '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. Culture is a beautiful thing. Holi, Diwali are beautiful festivals. Why should we leave them?'
This framing — separating the cultural inheritance of a civilisation from its religious institutions — is consistent with the intellectual position Akhtar has held across interviews and public appearances over the years.
Why the Video Is Circulating Now
The resurfacing of the clip reflects a recurring pattern in Indian social media, where statements by prominent cultural figures on identity, religion, and nationhood are periodically revived amid broader public debates. Akhtar, one of Bollywood's most decorated lyricists and screenwriters, carries significant cultural authority, and his remarks — whether on religion, politics, or cinema — tend to attract wide engagement across the political spectrum.
As debates around cultural identity and secularism continue in India's public square, Akhtar's articulation of an atheist who nonetheless celebrates the country's cultural festivals offers a perspective that cuts across conventional divides.
Point of View
And to locate India's democratic instinct in a pre-religious cultural inheritance. What mainstream coverage often misses is that this argument, made by an atheist with impeccable Bollywood credentials, is also a quiet rebuke to both religious majoritarianism and minority cultural withdrawal. It is a position that neither the religious right nor the identitarian left finds entirely comfortable — which is perhaps why it keeps resurfacing.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Javed Akhtar say about Hindu culture?
Javed Akhtar said that what makes Hindu culture beautiful is its openness — 'they allow you to say anything, listen to anything and believe anything.' He linked this value system directly to the existence of democracy in India, arguing that this democratic spirit does not exist beyond India until the Mediterranean coast.
Is Javed Akhtar Hindu or religious?
Javed Akhtar is a publicly declared atheist and has no religious belief. However, he celebrates festivals like Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Christmas, framing them as cultural rather than religious observances. He hosts one of Bollywood's most prominent Holi celebrations at his home every year.
What is Javed Akhtar's argument about culture and religion?
Akhtar argues that culture and religion are separate — and that festivals like Holi and Diwali were created by human culture long before religions adopted them. He believes Indians should not abandon their cultural heritage on religious grounds, describing culture as 'a beautiful thing' independent of faith.
Why has Javed Akhtar's old video gone viral again?
The video has resurfaced as part of a recurring pattern on Indian social media, where statements by prominent cultural figures on identity, religion, and nationhood are revived during periods of public debate. Akhtar's standing as one of Bollywood's most respected voices gives his remarks wide reach across the political spectrum.
What festivals does Javed Akhtar celebrate?
Despite being an atheist, Javed Akhtar celebrates Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Christmas — all framed as cultural rather than religious events. His home hosts what is widely regarded as the biggest Holi celebration in the Hindi film industry each year.
