Veteran Star Javed Akhtar Opens About Childhood Conditioning, Relationships, and the Angry Young Man Phenomenon
Javed Akhtar discussed his relationship with his parents, his equation with his children Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, his struggle with alcoholism, his collaboration with Salim Khan, modern women, feminism, new-age writers and directors in Bollywood, the vague concept of men, his childhood, and much more.
Javed Akhtar About Childhood Conditioning: The conditioning of men and women from childhood significantly shapes societal culture. Young men often grow up with notions such as "mard ko dard nahi hota", "angry young man," and "men don’t cry." These ingrained beliefs can cause a disconnection from their emotions. In a candid conversation with Nikhil Taneja on Yuvaa’s masculine positivity show, Be A Man, Yaar, Javed Akhtar discussed the emotional landscape of men, touching upon the iconic "Angry Young Man" character he co-created in the 1970s, which was famously embodied by Amitabh Bachchan. Akhtar revealed that the "Angry Young Man" was not merely angry but also deeply hurt.
In the episode titled “Javed Akhtar Speaks About Equations with Wife Shabana Azmi, Ex-Wife Honey Irani, Amitabh Bachchan, and more on Yuvaa’s ‘Be A Man, Yaar!’”, Akhtar delved into various aspects of his life, including:
His relationships with the women in his life: Akhtar spoke about his strong bonds with his ex-wife Honey Irani and his current wife Shabana Azmi, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and love in their marriage.
His friendship with Honey Irani: Despite their divorce, Akhtar described Honey Irani as one of his best friends, emphasizing the deep trust and camaraderie they share.
His marriage to Shabana Azmi: Akhtar reflected on their 40-year-long marriage, attributing their happiness to mutual respect, love, and acceptance.
The "Angry Young Man" character: Akhtar praised Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal, noting that the depth of the character’s pain made his anger resonate more powerfully than mere arrogance.