Shabana Azmi recently appeared on The Hollywood Reporter India’s show, where she candidly discussed her relationship with husband Javed Akhtar, sharing insights into their dynamic. She recalled a turning point when she was offered the controversial film Fire, dealing with same-sex love at a time when LGBTQ+ topics were rarely discussed.
Shabana Azmi Reveals How Javed Akhtar Has Always Had Her Back in Her Career
“Everybody talks about it and then I was struggling and I said what should I do? So, he said do you like the script? I said very much. He said will you be able to defend it because obviously it's going to create a lot of controversy. Will you be able to keep your head high and say I'm glad I did the film? So, I said yes. So, he said go ahead and do it,” she shared, describing how his words gave her the courage to take on the role, despite the controversy.
Shabana also revealed the playful side of their relationship, sharing a humorous anecdote from the set of Makdi, a film where she played a witch. "I was trying all kinds of makeup and things like that. So, one day he came in and he saw me with all this thing. So, he said what are you doing? I said I'm playing a witch. So, remove all your makeup," she recalled, highlighting Javed’s candid nature.
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi’s Love Story
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi’s love story began in a creative space, where poetry and art brought them together. Javed met Shabana at renowned poet Kaifi Azmi’s home, seeking his guidance to enhance his Urdu poetry. Frequent house visits, writing sessions, and deep discussions soon saw Javed becoming increasingly drawn to Shabana. However, Shabana, aware of Javed’s marital status at the time, kept her distance.
"If you consider the fact that one seeks the perfect match of backgrounds for an arranged marriage, then this could well have been the perfect arranged marriage. He (Javed) was already married by the time I realised how well-suited we were. We stayed away from each other for as long as was possible," Shabana explained in a previous interview with DNA.
Their connection, however, didn’t escape the gossip columns. Shabana had been previously linked with other prominent figures, including Benjamin Gilani and Shekhar Kapur. At the same time, Javed, famous for his successful collaborations with Salim Khan on films like Sholay, was also facing public scrutiny. As reports of their growing closeness emerged, tensions rose between Javed and his wife, Honey Irani. However, both Javed and Shabana ensured that their personal issues did not affect their children.
Honey Irani and Javed Akhtar parted ways in 1978, and Shabana and Javed continued their relationship for another six years, occasionally considering ending it to avoid causing distress to Zoya and Farhan. She said, “We told each other, We will break up after one last meeting.’ We met for that last meeting and we talked and talked We got so busy talking, we forgot to break up.”
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar got married in December 1984. After more than 40 years together, Shabana describes their relationship as a lasting “friendship” that has withstood the test of time, despite their hectic schedules. As for Javed’s children, Zoya and Farhan, they have developed a positive relationship with Shabana, despite the initial awkwardness.
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