Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar is a true legend in the world of Hindi cinema. His journey began in Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic 1973 film Zanjeer, where he teamed up with the legendary screenwriter Salim Khan. Together, Salim-Javed created magic in timeless classics like Sholay and Deewar.
Recently, Akhtar shared a glimpse of the glitzy world of Bollywood on the comedy show Chill Sesh hosted by comedian Sapan Verma. He reminisced about the days when starry tantrums were unheard of, contrasting it with the current scenario where he hears tales of stars demanding three vanity vans on set.
According to Akhtar, one vanity van is dedicated to workouts, while the other two are for meals and food prep. He humorously mentioned that today’s stars come with a hefty entourage of 18-19 people, including a hairstylist who charges a whopping Rs 75,000 per day. Akhtar jokingly remarked that he could have pursued a career as a hairstylist if he had known about the lucrative fees.
Reflecting on the past, Akhtar recalled a time when stars were known for their irregular and undisciplined behavior, often showing up late on set. However, the lack of resources back then meant they couldn’t indulge in extravagant luxuries like today.
In a candid moment, Akhtar revealed how his children, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and actor-director Farhan Akhtar, view his writing as “outdated” compared to their modern sensibilities. He even shared a quirky anecdote about being asked to write dialogues for a dog in Zoya’s film Dil Dhadakne Do.
Married to veteran actress Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar’s life and work were recently spotlighted in the documentary miniseries Angry Young Men, co-starring Salim Khan. Directed by Namrata Rao, the series delves into the dynamic partnership of the iconic screenwriting duo and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
