Javed Akhtar’s first wife, Honey Irani, recently offered a candid glimpse into the celebrated writer’s early career, particularly during his legendary partnership with Salim Khan. As the powerhouse duo Salim-Javed, they dominated Bollywood, commanding fees that often surpassed those of leading actors. However, according to Irani, this unparalleled success also fueled an inflated ego in Javed Akhtar, contributing to an air of arrogance shared by both writers. She even described Javed as a patronizing husband during that period.
When asked about Javed Akhtar’s ego following his monumental success, Honey Irani minced no words. “Any sort? He had a massive ego… Massive, massive ego. He used to say, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ or ‘Tum nahi samjhogi (You won’t understand)’.”
She further elaborated on their demeanor, stating, “He was patronising with other people too. When someone would try to advise them, saying, ‘Sir, aapko aise baat nahi karni chahiye… ya aapko yeh kar lena chahiye…’ (Sir, you shouldn’t speak like this, or you should do this instead). They would respond like, ‘Don’t tell us what to do, we know.’ So they had that, they had arrogance. And I have seen that.”
When probed about whether she confronted Javed about this behavior, Irani admitted, “Bolte toh thay hum… par agar woh sune toh. He would just say, ‘Haan, you’re right. Absolutely right (I used to tell him. But only if he listened. He would just say, ‘Yes, you’re right. Absolutely right)’.” Despite the challenges, Honey Irani noted a significant transformation in his personality over time. “Now he is just the opposite. Especially with the way he gets along with youngsters — it’s amazing, really.”
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