Talha Anjum revisits Indian flag controversy, reflects on fame and hip-hop’s rise

In a wide-ranging and candid conversation on a podcast interview, Talha Anjum and producer Jokhay opened up about their creative evolution, personal growth, and the journey of Urdu hip-hop from underground movement to mainstream force. Spanning over, the interview offered a rare glimpse into the minds behind Young Stunners’ success, touching on everything from lyricism and legacy to fame and emotional resilience.

While Talha Anjum is now widely recognised for his lyrical precision, the rapper revealed that his creative beginnings were rooted not in hip-hop, but in traditional Urdu poetry.

“After listening to rap, it was some 10 years after that I actually felt an attachment to poetry (shayari)... That’s when I started writing,” he shared, recalling how his first attempts at writing found space in his school magazine during his time at Army Public School.

The conversation also turned to the cultural rise of rap in Pakistan, with Anjum reflecting on how the genre has moved from being dismissed to dominating the mainstream.

“That’s when I realised that the public has accepted it,” he said, referring to the moment hip-hop began receiving not just audience support but recognition from the wider music industry as well. For artists like Young Stunners, who once operated on the margins, standing alongside mainstream names like Atif Aslam on streaming charts has become a marker of just how far the genre has come.

Hashmi framed the gesture as an act of admiration rather than politics, noting that Anjum’s popularity across borders naturally invites such expressions of love from fans.

Anjum admitted he had not anticipated the reaction.

“I wasn’t expecting that, and that’s mostly because I don’t do interviews, and wherever I go, I try for there to be a point to it. I don’t talk to people for no reason,” he said.

The rapper added that while public reaction was divided, many senior artists privately supported him, particularly those who understood what it meant to receive love from audiences beyond national borders.

The discussion then turned toward what both men described as a double standard in how audiences react to cultural exchange between Pakistani and Indian artists.

“When Diljit Dosanjh does a concert and invites Hania Aamir onto the stage, we celebrate,” Hashmi said, prompting Anjum to call the contrasting reaction to his own situation “hypocrisy.”

Anjum also addressed the aftermath of his widely discussed interview with Nadia Khan, which was criticised by viewers and celebrities alike for its confrontational tone.

“When the interview started, the way I was spoken to, I don’t talk to anyone like that, and I don’t want anyone to talk to me that way,” he said. “Sitting there, I felt like I was a politician.”

The moment he suggested, he reinforced why he is selective about speaking publicly, choosing interviews only when he feels there is something meaningful to say.

Away from controversy, the conversation also offered a more vulnerable side of the rapper. Speaking alongside Jokhay, Anjum described music not just as a profession but as a form of emotional release.

“Sometimes, just talking does not make the pain go away,” he said, explaining how songwriting and studio sessions often serve as a way to process emotions that words alone cannot.