Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 07:25 IST Javed Akhtar says his criticism of Animal was aimed at audience choices, not the makers, warning that a film’s success reflects society. Javed Akhtar talks about returning to screenplay writing. At 81, Javed Akhtar remains one of the most influential voices in Indian cinema, known not just for his craft but for his willingness to question the direction films are taking. Few writers have shaped Hindi cinema the way he has, both through screenplay writing and lyrics that carried social, political and emotional weight. On January 17, marking his 81st birthday, Akhtar spoke candidly to Rediff about contemporary cinema, society and why he stepped away from writing screenplays for years. Javed Akhtar’s screenwriting legacy is inseparable from his partnership with Salim Khan. As the iconic Salim-Javed duo, they defined an era with films like Sholay, Deewaar, Zanjeer and Trishul. Their stories reflected social unrest, moral conflict and the frustration of a generation, making screenwriting central to mainstream cinema. Speaking about the present-day industry, Javed Akhtar expressed concern over what …