Javed Akhtar Declines to Write for ‘Border 2’, Calls Recreated Songs a Sign of Creative Bankruptcy
Border 2: Why Javed Akhtar Refused to Write Songs for the Sequel: The songs of the upcoming film Border 2 have sparked a lively debate ever since their release, with many fans expressing disappointment over the recreation of iconic tracks from the 1997 blockbuster Border. As nostalgia collides with modern reinterpretations, social media users have demanded the return of the original creative team, particularly lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer Anu Malik, who were closely associated with the first film.
Amid the ongoing discussion, veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has openly shared his views and revealed that he refused to write songs for Border 2, despite being approached by the filmmakers.
Speaking about the trend of recreating old songs, Javed Akhtar said, “They asked me to write for the film but I refused. I really think this is a kind of creative bankruptcy. You have an old song, which is already good, and you want to recreate it by adding something else to it? Make new songs, otherwise accept that you cannot do work of that level.”
Border 2: Javed Akhtar Breaks Silence on Why He Didn’t Write the Songs
He further emphasized the importance of originality in filmmaking and music. “Let what has been created remain as it is. Why recreate it? The songs from the film Haqeeqat (1964) were very good. However, we didn’t use them. We wrote new songs, and people loved them too. If you’re making a new film, create new songs. Why rely on the previous one? You’ve accepted that you can’t do something like that,” he added.
Fans of the original Border have echoed similar sentiments online, stating that the recreated tracks fail to capture the emotional depth and patriotic fervour of the original soundtrack, which remains iconic even decades later.
Border 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 23, 2026. The film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, and serves as a sequel to J.P. Dutta’s 1997 war classic Border. Despite the controversy surrounding its music, the film remains one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
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