Javed Akhtar seen writing in Urdu as Shabana Azmi shares glimpse of his study
Mumbai, May 31
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi shared a glimpse of her writer husband Javed Akhtar hard at work in his study.
What caught our attention in the clip posted by Shabana on social media on Sunday was that the celebrated lyricist and screenwriter was seen writing in Urdu.
Not just that, in the era of AI, he was seen writing his latest draft using a pen and paper, just the old school way.
Publishing a panoramic view of the writer's room on her official Insta handle, Shabana penned, "The writer in his study ..(sic)."
Reacting to the post, actress Urmila Matondkar commented, saying, "The Legend..in his study."
The study houses a large number of books, with a beautiful view outside the door.
For those who do not know, Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior. He comes from a family of writers, with his father Jan Nisar Akhtar being a songwriter in Hindi films and an Urdu poet.
Not just that, his paternal grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, and his grandfather's elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, were also writers.
Javed Akhtar ended up spending most of his childhood in Lucknow. Later on, he went on to graduate from Saifiya College in Bhopal.
A part of the acclaimed writer duo Salim-Javed, they went on to deliver several noteworthy projects, including "Andaz" (1971), "Haathi Mere Saathi" (1971) "Seeta Aur Geeta" (1972), "Yaadon Ki Baaraat" (1973), "Zanjeer" (1973), "Haath Ki Safai" (1974), "Deewaar" (1975), "Sholay" (1975), "Chacha Bhatija" (1977), "Don" (1978), "Trishul" (1978), "Dostana" (1980), "Kranti" (1981), "Zamana" (1985) and "Mr. India" (1987).
However, Javed Akhtar ended up splitting from Salim Khan in 1982, marking the end of an era.
Shifting our focus to his personal life, when Shabana and Javed Akhtar first met, he was already married to his first wife, Honey Irani, and was also a father to two kids -Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar.
However, the couple went on to finally get married on December 9, 1984.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I respect his legacy but can't help feeling conflicted. His personal life choices - leaving his first wife and children for Shabana Azmi - have always bothered me. Great art doesn't always come from great people. Still, his work with Salim Khan changed Bollywood forever.
In the age of ChatGPT and AI writing scripts, seeing Javed Akhtar pen down his thoughts in Urdu with a physical pen is a reminder that true creativity comes from the soul, not algorithms. The man wrote many classics - "Mere Dushman Tu Meri Dua" still gives me chills. Javed sahab, you are timeless! 🇮🇳
The entire Akhtar family is a powerhouse of creativity - Farhan directing "Dil Chahta Hai", Zoya making "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", and Javed sahab writing timeless poetry. That study looks like a sanctuary of art. Though I wish the article focused more on his recent work rather than just his past hits and personal controversies.
Reading this made me nostalgic for the days when poets and writers were celebrated in our culture. Today's generation barely knows Urdu - we're losing so much beauty. Javed Akhtar represents the last of a golden era when words had weight and music had soul. Shabana ji, please share more such glimpses! 🌹
As an American who loves Indian cinema, this is fascinating. The dedication to handwrite in Urdu shows such depth of character. His scripts for "Sholay" and "Mr. India
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.