Will Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir Be Barred from Entering India?

Veteran Indian lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has sparked a fresh debate, calling the cultural exchange between India and Pakistan unfair.

He said that while Pakistani actors and singers are warmly welcomed in India and often perform at major events, Indian artists are not given the same platform in Pakistan.

Akhtar mentioned that legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Noor Jehan were honoured in India, but Pakistan never hosted Indian icons like Lata Mangeshkar, despite the love she received from Pakistani fans. He called this behaviour “one-sided hospitality” and urged for a more balanced cultural relationship.

However, critics in Pakistan pointed out that politics and strict visa policies from both sides have limited artistic exchange, not just hospitality. Many have reminded Akhtar of the warmth Pakistani fans have shown to Indian legends over the years, despite political tensions.