Scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who is upset with reports of a remake of 1973 super hit film "Zanjeer", says they should only be made if they are better than the original.

"Any film can be remade provided that it is better that the original. If you are not making it good then where is the need of making it? Ram Gopal Varma remade 'Sholay'. He shouldn't have done that, but it is a free country...," the 67-year-old told reporters at the Vidhu Vinod Chopra film festival.

The 1973-hit "Zanjeer", starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Pran, was produced and directed by Prakash Mehra and his son Amit has decided to remake the action thriller.

A writer has the moral right over his work and changes cannot be made without his permission, Akhtar contended.

"There is something besides a copyright, about which no one talks and that is moral rights. It is not to be changed. If you buy an artist's painting and put it up in your house, you cannot change the content of the painting. The moral rights of the painting remains with the artist," he said.

"Similarly, if you have taken the script, the writer has the moral right over it. You cannot make changes in it without the writer's consent or permission," Ahktar added.