Javed Akhtar on staying relevant through generations: Stay open to learning
Mumbai, May 02
Prominent lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who has been a part of the industry for decades now, shared the key to staying relevant across generations.
Addressing an event organised under Spiral Bound, a writing platform created by actor Boman Irani, Javed Akhtar said that one should never think that they know it all and always be open to learning new things.
During the event, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan asked the renowned writer, "You've worked with people of different generations, from those your own age when you began, to younger collaborators as you grew more senior. How do you remain relevant across generations?"
Sharing his personal experience, the lyricist stated that the world belongs to the younger generation, and the rest are simply living in it.
He was heard saying, "When I entered the industry, I was working with my seniors. Everyone used to be older than us. Then, slowly, people our age started joining, followed by people younger than us. Now, I am working with people of my grandchildren's age. If you are open to understanding what this generation is saying, if you don't have this delusion that "I know the best", you will be relevant. We have to respect people."
"The fact is, we are overstaying. This world is theirs. This world is yours. It belongs to you. It is true that we know some things that you don't know. But it is also true that you know many things that we don't know. If we are open to learn from each other, then we are relevant," he went on to add.
Javed Akhtar's statement was met with huge applause from the audience.
Sharing the clip on social media, Boman Irani penned the caption, "When you're surrounded by people who have seen decades of change... you listen more carefully. On stage with Javed Akhtar saab, we spoke about what it means to stay relevant. And the answer was disarmingly simple...stay open, keep learning, and don't shy away from change....
I think that stayed with everyone in the room. (sic)."
— IANS
Reader Comments
So true! My grandfather always says the same thing - you're never too old to learn. Javed Akhtar's words are not just for the film industry but for everyone. The moment you think you know everything, you become irrelevant. Beautifully said. 👏
I appreciate the sentiment, but I think there's also a need to balance it. While being open to learning is important, we shouldn't discard the wisdom that comes with age and experience. The youth have much to teach, but they also have much to learn from those who came before. It goes both ways. Still, a valuable message overall.
This is exactly what we need in our Indian workplaces too. Many senior leaders think they know it all and dismiss new ideas from younger colleagues. If more people adopted Javed Akhtar's mindset, our industries would be far more innovative. Respect to him for being so down to earth despite his legendary status! 🎯
As someone from the younger generation, I really appreciate hearing this from a veteran like Javed Akhtar. It's refreshing to see someone who doesn't look down on us or think we don't know anything. This is why his work still connects with people of all ages. Boman Irani's caption sums it up perfectly. ✨
This quote really resonates: "The world belongs to the younger generation, and the rest are simply living in it." That's such a profound perspective. In many cultures, especially in India, we tend to revere age blindly, but Javed Akhtar is showing that true respect comes from mutual learning. Lovely insight.