The loudest criticism of Border 2 has not come from social media trolls or rival filmmakers. It has come from the man who helped shape the soul of the original film. Javed Akhtar Border 2 has now become
a talking point after the veteran lyricist revealed that he was approached for the upcoming sequel but chose to walk away. At a time when nostalgia-driven sequels dominate Bollywood, Javed Akhtar’s take on it has reopened a larger conversation about creativity, repetition and the cost of playing safe. Why Javed Akhtar said no In a recent interaction with India Today, Javed Akhtar confirmed that the makers of Border 2 did reach out to him. However, he made it clear that revisiting old material did not interest him. Explaining his decision, the veteran screenwriter and lyricist said, “They did ask me to write for the film, but I refused. I really feel this is a kind of intellectual and creative bankruptcy. You have an old song, which did well, and you want to put it out again by adding something? Make new songs or else accept that you cannot do the same level of work.” The statement struck a chord because it directly addressed the growing trend of remixes and reworked tracks in big-budget films. Songs under scrutiny Several songs from Border 2 have already been released, and most of them are updated versions of tracks from the 1997 war drama Border. This has led to mixed reactions online. A section of social media users openly wished for the return of the original creative team, including composer Anu Malik, who worked on Border. Border 2: what we know so far Border 2 is one of the most anticipated Bollywood releases of 2026. The film is directed by Anurag Singh and is inspired by the 1971 India-Pakistan War. The sequel brings back Sunny Deol in the lead role, a move that has generated massive nostalgia. He is joined by Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, who play soldiers fighting on the frontlines. Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Diljit Dosanjh and Sonam Bajwa also appear in key roles. The film is produced by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with JP Dutta’s JP Films. Border 2 is scheduled to release on January 23, ahead of Republic Day and on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
