NEW DELHI: Hindi movie lyricist Javed Akhtar said on Friday he was surprised to see his name on a poster of a biopic about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed he was falsely credited as one of the lyricists of the film, according to the Indian Express.

The newspaper said his name is the first in a list of lyricists that also includes Prasoon Joshi and Sameer.

Mr Akhtar’s name apparently appears on the poster of Vivek Oberoi-starrer PM Narendra Modi. He reportedly posted the poster on Twitter and wrote alongside it, “Am shocked to find my name on the poster of this film. Have not written any songs for it!”

The movie also stars Boman Irani (Ratan Tata), Manoj Joshi (Amit Shah) and Zarina Wahab (Modi’s mother), among others.

PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to release on April 5.

Mr Akhtar had showered praise on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a musical video. He reportedly wrote the script for the video to celebrate Mr Vajpayee’s poems.

“I salute Atalji for keeping intact his vulnerability of a poet in the midst of the harsh realities of politics,” Mr Akhtar had said. “His poems leave a deep impact. I have learnt a lot from the metaphors he has used. His dreams have a touch of pain, but he has not given up hope.”

Mr Akhtar recently cancelled his participation in a cultural event in Karachi over the Pulwama attack on Indian paramilitary troops.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2019