The revealing docu-series Angry You Men says a lot about the Salim-Javed partnership. But nothing about their sudden split.
Javed Akhtar on the Salim-Javed divide, “We had reached the pinnacle of our productivity, we could only move downward”
This writer decided to probe directly with Javed Saab who said, “Sorry, Sir. I can’t help you with that. We parted ways. What happened, what happened, what happened, even our wives don’t have the answer. Neither of us has ever spoken in the media. So, it has always been very stable, very civil, very dignified. And we maintain a cordial relationship. So really, that is something that people should appreciate. And if there comes a time in their life when they have to separate from somebody, a partner, a spouse, anybody, then this is how it should be. There is no kind of acrimony. Never was. Although it is very dramatic and exciting to believe that something happened. The wives had a fight. They had no connection (with the split). They still don’t know. They still don’t know the details of our relationship.”
When I probe further on the Great Divide Javed Saab explained, “Writing, scripting is a creative process. It’s not an industry. You don’t have any scale, any litmus test. In a creative collaboration, the mental compatibility is imperative. It is all about being on the same page. When you’re unsuccessful, you are a struggler, you start as nobody, you only have yourself to look out for. Then in life you move forward, you form new relationships, form new friendships. Your priorities change. Many dormant desires, ambitions, interests and hobbies start emerging, because now your basic problem of earning your living is solved and you are doing well. Your other interests also start getting important.”
He continued, “So you grow apart from those who were a part of your life earlier. One person says let us move ahead, the other doesn’t want to, or accepts it. This is the way it is. I can’t give you any other explanation. Arjun (1985) came along for me right after the split. I didn’t get an opportunity to regret the split. Because Arjun came. I became a successful songwriter and solo screenwriter. Decision in retrospective seems justified. Now that you have made me think, I feel Salim and I had reached the pinnacle of our productivity. We could only move downward. We had made a great name for ourselves. We had our best behind us.”
Why are there no celebrity writer beyond Salim-Javed in Hindi cinema? Javed Saab corrected me saying, “There was one before us: Pandit Mukhram Sharma. His name used to be on the banner. That means when Dhool Ka Phool was released it was ‘BR Chopra presents Pandit Mukhram Sharma’s Dhool Ka Phool directed by Yash Chopra.’ There was a lot of respect for him. Pandit Mukhram Sharma had his own identity. I will not say that we do not have very good writers. People do not believe in your abilities after just one film. You have to prove yourself again and again. At least three, four times. Then you attract the attention of others. You have to create a track record, sir.”
Also Read: Javed Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar to make stage debut at Expresso’s third session in Mumbai
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