Javed Akhtar revealed insights into his successful partnership with Salim Khan, known as Salim-Javed, which changed Indian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. He emphasized that their storytelling was rooted in shared societal experiences rather than external expectations. Their notable films include ‘Sholay’ and ‘Deewaar’. Recently, they were in the news for their docu-series ‘Angry Young Men’.
Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan, often referred to as the iconic
screenwriting duo
‘Salim-Javed’ revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. Together, they penned some of Bollywood’s most memorable films, including ‘Sholay’, ‘Deewaar’, ‘Zanjeer, and Don. Javed Akhtar recently opened up about the secret behind the
success
mantra of his
collaboration
with Salim Khan.
In an interview with NDTV, Javed Akhtar revealed that he and his former partner had no idea what the secret was. He also added that they are ‘happy’ that they don’t know the code. He further added that if they knew what society wants, or is looking for, that would have meant, they would be looking at society from outside and prescribing medicines. Instead, they were part of the same social fabric, sharing the same emotions and experiences as their audience.
Javed Akhtar emphasized that their storytelling wasn’t shaped by an external perspective of what the public desired, but rather by their own genuine interest in the stories they wanted to tell. He believes that this authenticity resonated with audiences naturally. According to him, it was a fortunate coincidence that their personal narratives aligned with what people were looking for at the time. Instead of sitting on a pedestal and thinking, they were immersed in the same world as their viewers, creating stories that resonated with them. Between 1971 and 1987, the Salim-Javed duo has worked in 24 films, out of which 20 were both commercially and critically acclaimed.
Martin | Song – Dhadkano Main
Meanwhile, Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan recently made headlines for their docu series ‘Angry Young Men’.
