Javed Akhtar claims ‘Maine bahut bure din dekhe hai’ as he talks about producers boycotting him: ‘Thought of committing suicide…’

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Noted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar played a significant role in the enactment of the Copyright Amendment Act 2012, which aimed to establish equitable revenue distribution for long-neglected lyricists and composers. However, this legislation was met with resistance from music corporations and producers, leading to a boycott against him. Despite this setback, Akhtar remains unperturbed, drawing strength from his hardship-filled past when he arrived in Mumbai with minimal resources. He also emphasized that the thought of suicide never crossed his mind.

In an interview with Mid-day for the Sit With Hitlist series, Javed Akhtar admitted that a resolution was made to boycott him. Yet, he also remarked, “Doesn’t concern me much. It should have been done 20 years ago. What’s the issue now?

In conversation, he reminisced about an occasion when he met up with some film producers who he’d written successful movies for in the past. At a hotel, they had a discussion about possibly blacklisting him during their meeting at the same location.

Despite being oblivious to the potential illegality of their actions, someone eventually pointed out that Akhtar could potentially take legal action against the boycott. Nevertheless, they opted not to collaborate with him until the issue is resolved. He also mentioned, “Indeed, I’ve lost numerous projects. Even now, they aren’t working with me.

In simpler terms, Javed Akhtar talked about a discussion he had with someone who eventually decided to boycott him and explained why it wouldn’t hurt him. He recalled his early days in Mumbai when he was nearly penniless and endured severe financial difficulties. However, despite these hardships, the accomplished lyricist built a successful career for himself. Now, even if they refuse to work with him or boycott him, it won’t have an impact on him.

Expanding upon the hardships he endured, Javed stated, “I’ve gone through some really tough times.” He went on to explain that there were days when his breakfast was a luxury and he didn’t know where his next meal or place to sleep would be. Remarkably, he mentioned that during those introspective moments, the thought of suicide never crossed his mind.

Javed Akhtar mentioned that the thought of eating a meal outside the Mahim Dargah never appealed to him during the two days he went without food. He expressed, “I might have perished there. I held myself in such high regard, the concept was — it’s just a matter of time. I was so convinced of that.

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2025-05-10 11:07