The ‘
Angry Young Men
’ trailer, a docu-series that explores the legendary journey of the iconic duo
Salim-Javed
, has gone viral on the internet. This series illuminates the phenomenal rise of
Salim Khan
and Javed Akhtar, the screenwriter duo behind 22 of the 24 films they co-wrote that became box office successes. It’s uncommon in Indian movie history for
writers
, who are frequently overshadowed by stars, to be celebrated in such a grand manner.
While writers are widely recognized as the foundation of any good movie, they are frequently overlooked in Indian cinema. But Salim-Javed defied this norm. By seeking salaries comparable to those of the leading actors, they transformed the business and demonstrated that a strong script could captivate viewers just as much as a well-known actor could. Their names were frequently listed alongside top actors, making them the only writing team to ever achieve star status.
Salim-Javed were a household name in the late 1970s thanks to hits like ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Deewar’, and ‘Sholay’. The trailer for ‘Angry Young Men’ reveals that during their peak of popularity, they asked for and were paid Rs 21 lakh each film—more than even
Amitabh Bachchan
, who was at the time India’s highest-paid actor, received. This is made clear by a graphic in the teaser, which shows that Amitabh is paid Rs 20 lakh, while Shatrughan Sinha and Rajesh Khanna receive far less. In the documentary, Karan Johar quips, “Can you imagine if a writer today asked for a crore more than
Salman Khan
? That was the power of Salim-Javed.”
Salim Khan reflected on his journey during the trailer launch, saying, “I began my career in front of the camera but found my true calling in storytelling. Javed and I shared a passion for writing, and together, we challenged industry norms and created something special. I’m thrilled that our journey is being documented for future generations, and I hope it inspires others to pursue their passions fearlessly.”
Numerous Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, and many more, are interviewed for the documentary series and share their thoughts on the enormous impact Salim-Javed had on the industry. Additionally, the show delves into the duo’s final breakup, which shocked Bollywood.
Javed Akhtar heaps praise on ‘biggest superstar’ Salman Khan: ‘Wo baap ke samne…’
