Javed Akhtar blasts columnist who questioned makers' choice to cast Aamir Khan in Mahabharata

Pic Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi: Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday lambasted columnist Francois Gautier, who raised an objection over reports of actor Aamir Khan playing a pivotal role in a movie on Hindu epic - the Mahabharata.

On Wednesday, the industry buzz claimed that Aamir will work on a mega-budget movie series based on the great Indian epic 'The Mahabharata' after completing 'Thugs of Hindostan'. It will be one of the most expensive films to be ever made. And it will be on the lines of Hollywood's 'The Lord of the Rings' or the 'Game of Thrones' in terms of the production value. 

The project is estimated to be made at a whopping Rs 1,000 crore and will be co-produced by Mukesh Ambani. Previously, the actor has on several occasions, expressed his willingness making Mahabharata as his dream project. He even wished to play the character of Karna or Krishna.

However, Gautier though didn't take this report kindly as he questioned the decision of makers to cast a Muslim actor in the Hindu epic. 

"Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of @narendramodi going to be like the @INCIndia & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?," he tweeted.

Check the post here:

Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of @narendramodi going to be like the @INCIndia & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?https://t.co/fC7bvbHkZE — Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) March 21, 2018

Meanwhile, taking objection to the tweet, Akhtar retorted back at Gautier, abusing him, as he posted, "You scoundrel, have you not seen peter brooks production of this great epic Mahabharsta in France . I would like to know which foreign agency is paying you to spread this kind of perverse and poisonous thoughts in our country." 

You scoundrel, have you not seen peter brooks production of this great epic Mahabharsta in France . I would like to know which foreign agency is paying you to spread this kind of perverse and poisonous thoughts in our country — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 21, 2018

You ignorant unfortunate imbecile, obviously you know nothing about our Indian traditions and culture . Do you know who were Ras khan bullay shah Waris shah, ,Baba Farid Nazeer Akbarabadi , Nizir Banarasi , Bismillah khan . You are just a frog in the stinking well of communalism — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 22, 2018

This is not the first time Akhtar has gone harsh on social media. Earlier, during the controversy surrounding Gurmehar Kaur, the veteran lyricist openly slammed cricketer Virender Sehwag and the Phogat sisters over their tweets that appeared to mock the Delhi University student.