Javed Akhtar has never been shy about his atheism, and his latest interview has put the subject back in the headlines. Speaking to Saurabh Dwivedi on Express Hindi, the veteran screenwriter, poet and lyricist questioned whether most people ever really choose their religion, as reported by Hindustan Times, News18 and Aaj Tak.

The remark that travelled furthest was his claim that 99 percent of people die in the religion they were born into. This explainer sets out what he said, in context, without taking sides. It is one person's view on a deeply personal subject, and many people of faith see the question very differently.

What Javed Akhtar said about inherited religion

According to News18, Akhtar questioned whether religious faith is a conscious choice at all. He pointed out that most people follow the faith they grew up with and said that 99 percent of people die in the religion they were born into.

His question, as News18 summarises it, is how often people stop to examine those beliefs for themselves, rather than continuing to follow what they were taught as children. The 99 percent figure should be read as his rhetorical point rather than a statistic from a cited study.

The Elon Musk analogy

Akhtar accepted that religion can offer comfort in difficult times. His argument was that comfort is not the same as proof.

To illustrate it, he used an example involving Elon Musk. As quoted by News18, he said: "Believe it from your heart that next month he is going to send me two, four, six billion dollars, and then keep saying next month, next month, and remain happy. How reassuring would it be if you thought that Elon Musk is my brother? You would be happy, right?"

The point of the analogy, according to the reports, is that a belief can make someone feel secure without that feeling showing the belief is true.

Trusting an idea, not a person

The other part of the interview that drew attention was Akhtar's distinction between trusting people and trusting ideas.

"Our story is different. We don't trust a person. We trust an idea. That person may say something else tomorrow, it doesn't make any difference to us. We trust the idea, logic and reason," he said, as quoted by News18.

He went on: "What happens with a person who is religious, or a person of faith, is that he trusts a person. Whatever his parents told him, he probably trusts his parents. Or he may find a saint. There are 10 major religions in the world. And to say that they are all the same is nonsense. They are all different."

That last line, rejecting the idea that all religions are the same, was also highlighted in Aaj Tak's Hindi headline on the interview.

Why it struck a nerve, and the wider context

Religion is a sensitive subject in India, and remarks like these tend to draw strong reactions from every direction. Some readers will see a case for questioning inherited beliefs; others will see faith as something that is not meant to be judged by the standards of logic alone, or point out that people can reflect deeply on a religion and still remain within it.

What is not new is Akhtar's position. News18 recalls that in a 2005 India Today Conclave speech he said, "I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs." He has returned to the theme many times in debates and interviews since.

The core of his argument this time is a simple question about choice: if most people follow the faith of their parents, how much of belief is chosen and how much is inherited? Readers will answer that differently, and that is precisely why the clip has been so widely shared.

FAQ

What did Javed Akhtar say about religion?

In an interview with Express Hindi's Saurabh Dwivedi, Javed Akhtar said most people do not consciously choose their religion and that 99 percent of people die in the religion they were born into, as reported by News18 and Hindustan Times.

Why did Javed Akhtar mention Elon Musk?

He used Musk as an analogy to argue that a belief can be comforting without being true, comparing it to believing Musk will send you billions of dollars next month.

Is Javed Akhtar an atheist?

Yes. He has spoken about his atheism for years, including at the 2005 India Today Conclave, where he said, "I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs," according to News18.

Cover photo: Sriya Sarkar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0