Here’s what Javed Akhtar follows while writing songs for kids Farhan and Zoya Akhtar: ‘I can’t treat them like…’

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Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who’s known for his straightforward opinions and dedication to his craft, has recently discussed his experiences collaborating with his offspring, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. He revealed that when penning songs for them, he approaches them not as children but solely as directors.

In an interview on the Sit With Hitlist series with Mid-day, Javed Akhtar explained that he approaches his work with his children, Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, not as a parent but as a professional. When collaborating on a screenplay, their relationship transitions from that of father to writer, eliminating any age difference in their professional interactions.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: In discussing my unique collaboration with Salim Khan, I, an established wordsmith, made it clear that our partnership is guided by his final decision-making role. However, when it comes to creating screenplays, we function as equals. Yet, the deep-rooted Indian respect for elders is never absent, given Salim’s seniority and wealth of experience in the field.

In a recent interview for the documentary series titled “Angry Young Men,” Javed Akhtar expressed some regrets about what didn’t make it into the final version, revealing parts of the Salim-Javed story he wished were included.

Instead of referring to perfection as a “mirage”, he explained that one should continuously “strive” for it. He mentioned that he generally avoids revisiting his old movies or songs, except for Trishul, which he recently watched but didn’t catch when it was initially released in theaters.

After seeing the movie, he expressed that he found it entertaining and amusing following so many years. He also discussed the plot, which centers around two real estate tycoons, a father and son who are oblivious to their familial bond, clashing in Delhi. What particularly caught Javed’s attention was the fact that the term “crores” never appeared in the film; instead, it focused on “lakhs,” as the idea of crores seemed implausible during the 70s.

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2025-05-10 13:22