Javed Akhtar Refuses to Pen Songs for ‘Border 2’, Criticizes Makers for Relying on Old Hits

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has revealed that he declined an offer to write songs for the upcoming war film Border 2, starring Sunny Deol. In a recent interview, he explained that the makers had approached him, but he refused, calling their approach “intellectually and creatively bankrupt.”

After the release of the film’s songs, fans have been divided—some appreciating the new tracks, while others have compared them to the original Border songs, feeling that the magic of the first soundtrack was missing. This led to calls on social media for Anu Malik and Javed Akhtar to write for the film.

Javed Akhtar Speaks Out
In an interview with India Today, Akhtar said, “They asked me to write for the film, but I refused. It felt like intellectual and creative bankruptcy. You have an old song that performed well, and you want to release it again with minor changes. Either create something new, or accept that you cannot achieve that level of work anymore.”

He elaborated further, citing examples from his career: *“What’s gone is gone. We had the 1964 film *Haqeeqat*, which had phenomenal songs like *Kar Chale Hum Fida* and Main Ye Sochkar Uske Dar Se Utha Tha. We didn’t reuse those; we wrote new and unique songs, and audiences loved them. Now you’re remaking a film—why depend on the past? You must acknowledge that you cannot reach that standard.”*

Advance Booking Update
Despite the controversy over the soundtrack, Border 2 is creating a buzz at the box office. The film earned ₹1.69 crore from advance bookings on the first day alone. Scheduled for release on 23 January 2026, coinciding with Republic Day, the film is expected to see further growth in pre-sales and audience anticipation.