When just Rs 60 became main reason for Javed Akhtar not making Shatrughan Sinha his roommate

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In the past, esteemed actor and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar reminisced about his humble beginnings in Bollywood, a time when he and another person lived together in a single room. Interestingly, Shatrughan Sinha asked to move in with them, but Javed politely declined due to doubts over whether Shatrughan could handle the 60 Rupee monthly rent.

Reminiscing about my humble beginnings during an interview on the Sit With Hitlist series with Mid-day, I fondly recalled a heartwarming tale from my struggling days. After achieving some success in my career, I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon a tiny room that set me back just Rs 120 per month. To my delight, I had a roommate who shared the living expenses equally with me.

In response to Shatrughan Sinha’s request, the seasoned lyricist politely declined by saying, “So here comes Shatrughan asking me to keep him in my room. I replied, ‘Are you out of your mind? You think I’ll let you stay with me? Where will you get Rs 60 a month from? Can you even afford to give me Rs 60 every month? That’s impossible.’

Later on, Shatrughan approached me and suggested, “Can I live with you instead?” I responded, “You’re out of your mind! That would lead to us both getting kicked out. How will you manage to come up with Rs 60 every month? Honestly, it seems unlikely that you can.

Javed Akhtar mentioned that although Shatrughan Sinha asked him not to stay with him, he couldn’t help but admire Sinha’s undeniable charisma, elegance, and panache, which eventually became synonymous with his screen presence. Despite being turned down when they were starting out, Sinha eventually made a lasting impact in Bollywood and has become a prominent figure in the film industry.

During the same interview, this long-time songwriter shared stories about his challenging beginnings in Mumbai. Back then, he endured periods without food lasting more than two days. Remarkably, the thought of seeking a meal outside Mahim Dargah never crossed his mind during those hard times.

Javed Akhtar shared that breakfast held a sense of comfort for him, as every day brought uncertainty about where his next meal or place to rest would be found.

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2025-05-10 14:37