All posts tagged: Javed Akhtar Interview

‘I’m only 80’: Javed Akhtar corrects Aamir Khan, says his age comment has ‘a negative effect’ | Bollywood News

‘I’m only 80’: Javed Akhtar corrects Aamir Khan, says his age comment has ‘a negative effect’ | Bollywood News

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3 min readMumbaiMay 1, 2026 10:57 AM IST Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, often celebrated as much for his sharp wit as for his literary works, once again found himself in the spotlight, this time alongside superstar Aamir Khan. The occasion turned memorable when Aamir posed a thoughtful and sincere question about Javed’s remarkable ability to remain relevant across a career spanning more than five decades. ‘I’m only 80’ The viral exchange took place at an event hosted by actor Boman Irani’s scriptwriting platform, Spiral Bound. The gathering saw a host of prominent attendees, including Anil Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Ananya Panday, and Ishaan Khatter. From the audience, Aamir addressed Javed on stage, saying: “I always enjoy listening to you, so I keep watching your videos on YouTube and even call you afterward. I have a question for you: you have been working in the industry for such a long time. You’ve worked with people of different generations, from those your own age when you began, to younger collaborators as you grew more senior, and …

‘Ghatiya aadmi ka gussa…’: Javed Akhtar once said you can judge a person’s true character by observing their behaviour while they’re angry | Feelings News

‘Ghatiya aadmi ka gussa…’: Javed Akhtar once said you can judge a person’s true character by observing their behaviour while they’re angry | Feelings News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readNew DelhiFeb 6, 2026 12:00 AM IST Javed Akhtar is known not only for his celebrated writing but also for his sharp observations about life and human nature. During an interview with The Lallantop, the veteran lyricist and screenwriter spoke about how a person’s true character often comes to light in moments of anger, when pretence gives way to raw emotion.  Sharing his thoughts, he invoked a popular saying before adding his own perspective on how to truly understand someone. He said, “Ek muhaawra hai, ki agar kisi insaan ko pehchaan na hai, toh ya toh 14 baras uske saath raho aur ya uske saath safar karo. Mera khayal hai ek teesra test aur bhi hota hai — usey gusse mein dekho (They say that to really know someone you should either live with them for 14 years or travel with them. I’d add a third test: watch how they behave when they’re angry),” Akhtar remarked.  He continued, “Shareef aadmi ka gussa kuch aur hota hai, aur ghatiya aadmi ka gussa kisi aur …

Javed Akhtar feels Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar is a ‘great film’, remembers calling Aditya Dhar after watching it

Javed Akhtar feels Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar is a ‘great film’, remembers calling Aditya Dhar after watching it

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Indian screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has been dominating the headlines ever since he revealed why he rejected Border 2. Javed ji was approached to write for the upcoming film, a sequel to J. P. Dutta’s 1997 film Border which stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. However, the famous poet, who penned lyrics for Border, believed it was ‘intellectual and creative bankruptcy’ to create a reworked version of an old popular song instead of making something new. Well, is there any new work in Indian cinema which managed to impress him in recent times? In a new interview, Javed ji has named Superboys of Malegaon and Dhurandhar. Javed Akhtar and Ranveer Singh In a chat with Zoom, talking about the content being made in recent times, Javed Akhtar shared, “Bohot achhe kaam ho rahe hain. Kuchh box office pe appreciate hote hain, kuchh nahi bhi hote hain. Lekin woh achhe hain. Mujhe toh pichhle dino mein yeh film jo thi, Superboys of Malegaon, bohot pasand aayi. I think it is available …

Javed Akhtar Says Films Today Avoid Real Issues: ‘Filmmakers Hide Behind Romance, Ghost Stories And Sex’ | Bollywood News

Javed Akhtar Says Films Today Avoid Real Issues: ‘Filmmakers Hide Behind Romance, Ghost Stories And Sex’ | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

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 …

Javed Akhtar recalls Yash Chopra, ‘messiah of the poor’ Mahesh Bhatt opposing Copyright Act aimed at ending exploitation of creatives; says producers boycotted him | Bollywood News

Javed Akhtar recalls Yash Chopra, ‘messiah of the poor’ Mahesh Bhatt opposing Copyright Act aimed at ending exploitation of creatives; says producers boycotted him | Bollywood News

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Javed Akhtar is known as one of India’s most prolific screenwriters, lyricists, and poets. While he is celebrated for his many creative roles, not many know that he also played a pivotal part in the passing of the Copyright (Amendment) Act in 2012. The Act, which was passed in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, safeguarded the rights of writers, lyricists, music composers, actors, authors, and other creative professionals. In a recent interaction with Mid-Day, Javed Akhtar recalled how he got involved in the battle for copyright reform. During the conversation, Javed recalled that it all began when the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) approached him to become the head of the non-profit organisation. He admitted that before this, he didn’t know about publishing rights. “I had know idea publishing ka matlab kya hai. When I would sign contracts, they would take all the rights; I was not aware of that,” he said. “Music directors came to my house and said, ‘We are being badly exploited. They give us unfair contracts, and we want …

Mr India was originally conceived for Amitabh Bachchan before Salim-Javed’s split, Javed Akhtar reveals: ‘I developed it completely on my own’ | Bollywood News

Mr India was originally conceived for Amitabh Bachchan before Salim-Javed’s split, Javed Akhtar reveals: ‘I developed it completely on my own’ | Bollywood News

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It’s hard to imagine Mr. India without Anil Kapoor, but veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently revealed that he wasn’t the first choice for the role. In a recent interview with Mid-Day India, Javed revealed that the original inspiration behind the film came from none other than Amitabh Bachchan, who is known for his baritone. Recalling how the idea was sparked, he said that during a film’s muhurat (launch), that was to be done by Amitabh Bachchan, the actor was not available in person. So, it was decided that his voice would be played at the muhurat. “He had to do the mahurat, and because of some reason, they recorded the voice of Amitabh and played it during the muhurat shot. So, that gave me an idea — if this voice is so popular, so effective, why can’t we make the Invisible Man with him? We wouldn’t have to take his dates also. Most of the time, we could shoot and he would later dub his voice… That is how the idea started,” he shared. He …

Javed Akhtar On Whether Ranbir Kapoor Will Reach Amitabh Bachchan’s Stardom After ‘Animal’: ‘I May…’

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Javed Akhtar revealed if Ranbir Kapoor would ever attain stardom like Amitabh Bachchan after Animal. Javed Akhtar recently responded to a question about whether Ranbir Kapoor could ever achieve Amitabh Bachchan’s level of stardom after his role in ‘Animal’. The 2023 crime thriller ‘Animal’, starring Ranbir Kapoor, was both a major commercial success and a subject of controversy due to its provocative scenes. The film sparked mixed reactions, with some viewers criticizing its content. Even renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar previously commented on the film, subtly critiquing its approach. In a recent interview with ‘The Indian Express’, Akhtar shared his thoughts on the evolution of the ‘angry young man’ archetype in Indian cinema, famously portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan. He noted that the original appeal of these characters lay in the deep-seated pain behind their anger—a nuance that has since been lost, leading to the decline of such roles, “Then they forgot about the hurt, and there was only anger, which was crude. And that is how the angry young man went out of the scene,” he …