Javed Akhtar talks about being hardly married to wife Shabana Azmi, says we are friends

Javed Akhtar, renowned for his legendary writing and lyrics, has shared insights about his marriage to his wife, actress Shabana Azmi.

He explained that the concept of marriage is so old that it has accumulated a lot of complications over time. He added that, more than being a married couple, he and Shabana are best friends.

During his appearance on Barkha Dutt’s Mojo Story, Javed Akhtar was asked about his relationship with Shabana Azmi and how it has shaped him as a person. He responded, "Actually, we are hardly married. We are friends. My only qualification for a good marriage is this: are you friends or are you not? Shaadi-waadi toh bekaar kaam hai (The concept of marriage is nonsense). It’s a centuries-old tradition, a stone that has been rolled down mountains for ages. And as it came down, it collected a lot of moss, a lot of garbage and muck...”

Javed added, “The words ‘wife’ and ‘husband’ have taken on so many different meanings. Just forget about it. Two people, irrespective of their gender, how can they live happily together? It needs mutual respect, it needs mutual consideration, it needs giving space to each other." He emphasized that it’s important for people to understand that everyone, including their spouse, is an individual in their own right.

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"We have to understand that the other person is a human being, with their own ambitions and dreams. They have just as much of a right over their ambitions as I have over mine. That’s all. It isn’t rocket science. It’s actually quite simple. You can only live happily together if both of you are happy.” He then added, “One thing is for certain, love without respect is a fraud. Let me tell you, an independent woman, with her own ambitions, her own business, her own opinion, is not a very convenient person. Obviously, a person who is living with you and is not your slave is bound to be inconvenient. But you have to understand that they aren’t a slave!" Javed concluded.

Javed Akhtar married Shabana Azmi in 1984 under uncomfortable circumstances, as he was still married to his first wife, Honey Irani, at the time.