Javed Akhtar, a self‑declared atheist, celebrates Indian festivals across faiths

In the same viral recording, the self‑identified atheist Javed Akhtar discusses how personal identity transcends religious labels. He explains that an individual is shaped not only by self‑perception but also by society’s view of them.

He notes that during Eid, Christmas, Diwali and Holi his family celebrates with joy, treating these events as cultural, not religious, occasions.