Raj Babbar and Zeeshan Ayyub on Urdu Ishq and Hindustani Identity at Jashn-e-Rekhta | Sunday Special

Raj Babbar and Zeeshan Ayyub on Urdu Ishq and Hindustani Identity at Jashn-e-Rekhta | Sunday Special . Sunday Special at Jashn-e-Rekhta brings Raj Babbar and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub together with moderator Ambreen Khan for an easy, honest chat on Urdu, cinema, and Hindustani culture. Raj Babbar shares how an Urdu newspaper called Milaap came home, and how his grandfather read the Gita in an Urdu script edition. Those rides on a bicycle past Ghalib and Nazeer Akbarabadi landmarks shaped one clear belief. Urdu belongs to everyone, not to one religion. . Zeeshan talks about upbringing, choice, and why he feels responsible for protecting a shared Hindustani spirit. They also speak about NSD training, the role of mentors, and why AI cannot replace human experience in art. . Chapters: 00:00:00 Welcome. Hindustani blend, heart-led conversation 00:01:05 Gulzar and Javed Akhtar point on blended language 00:01:49 Raj Babbar and Zeeshan Ayyub greetings 00:02:32 “Tell us what Google doesn’t know” 00:03:15 Raj Babbar. Urdu love from home. Milap newspaper, Gita in Urdu script 00:04:16 Childhood landmarks. Ghalib and Nazeer Akbarabadi memories 00:06:00 Zeeshan’s “If Urdu were a character, I’d be a lover-poet” 00:07:24 Raj on theatre beginnings. Pronunciation and language power 00:09:50 Hindustani, Rekhta, Hindavi. Language belongs to India 00:10:54 Warning. Languages get taken away when tied to religion 00:12:48 Amir Khusro and roots of Hindavi. Bringing pride back 00:13:25 Zeeshan on social responsibility and upbringing 00:16:13 Raj’s mentors. Radio training. Pauses and delivery craft 00:19:16 Sajjad Zaheer legacy. Mission, era, humanism 00:23:22 Zeeshan’s anchor. “I’m at zero”. Learning mindset at NSD 00:25:55 Raj on discipline and continuity. The blank page lesson 00:33:05 AI and acting. Why art isn’t threatened 00:36:03 Zeeshan on choosing a negative role. Bored of repetition 00:40:10 Raj on playing villains. Premiere story. Acting with love 00:48:00 Zeeshan on films closest to him and searching for the next role 00:50:33 Zeeshan on Raj Babbar influence. Ghayal phone line impact 00:55:51 Raj Babbar on politics. Social artist to public platform 01:01:52 Zeeshan on acting yardstick and inspirations 01:04:09 Rapid definitions. SRK, Aamir, Salman, Bachchan in one word 01:10:59 Rapid fire fun. Romance in Urdu, anger in Punjabi 01:12:24 If not acting. Zeeshan would study history 01:13:01 Closing thanks. Speak Hindustani everywhere . About Jashn-e-Rekhta Jashn-e-Rekhta is the world’s largest cultural festival celebrating the beauty, depth, and living spirit of the Urdu language. Held annually, it brings together poets, musicians, writers, thinkers, and artists from across the world to create a space of poetry, music, conversations, and storytelling. From soul-stirring mushairas and spellbinding musical evenings to intimate dialogues and immersive cultural experiences, the festival is where language turns into emotion and heritage finds a contemporary voice. More than a festival, Jashn-e-Rekhta is a movement that keeps Urdu alive, relevant, and deeply connected across generations. . #rajbabbar #zeeshanayyub #urdu #jashnerekhta #rekhtafoundation #urdulanguage #hindusthani #indiancinema #languageandculture #urduadab . About Rekhta Foundation: Rekhta Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the Urdu language and its rich literary and cultural legacy. Through digital archives, learning platforms, publications, festivals, and community initiatives, the Foundation works to make Urdu accessible and meaningful for audiences worldwide. By bridging classical traditions with modern platforms and voices, Rekhta Foundation ensures that the language continues to inspire, connect, and evolve with time. . IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Rekhta Foundation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized downloading, clipping, re-uploading, or reuse of this content (audio/video/visuals) is strictly prohibited without written permission. . External Links: Website: https://rekhta.org/ Instagram:   / jashnerekhtaofficial   Rekhta Books: https://rekhtabooks.com/ Rekhta Learning: https://rekhtalearning.com/-