Javed Akhtar Breaks Down In Tears While Reflecting His Struggle Days, 'Nothing To Wear...Aukaat Thi...'

Javed Akhtar, renowned lyricist, poet, and screenwriter, known for his significant contributions to Bollywood. He has written lyrics for numerous hit songs and screenplays. His work includes acclaimed films like Sholay, Deewar, Zanjeer, and Chupke Chupke. Amid this, Javed Akhtar made headlines when he became emotional while recalling his past struggles with poverty. He shared personal stories about the difficult times when he faced hardships and had little to eat or wear, offering a poignant glimpse into his early life and the challenges he overcame on his journey to success.

Javed Akhtar, a Safia College graduate from Bhopal, arrived in Bombay with the ambition of working as an assistant director for the legendary Guru Dutt or Raj Kapoor. The lyricist recalled, "They were the directors I admired a lot at that time. I was sure I’d become a director myself in a short time." However, his early experiences in the city were a stark contrast to the glamorous film world he had envisioned.

"I was in my father’s house for exactly five days, and then I went on my own," Javed added. Without a stable place to stay, Javed Akhtar found himself living with friends, sleeping at railway stations, parks, studio compounds, and even on benches. The fight for survival was harsh, and he recalls a particularly tough period when he had nothing else to wear. "My last trouser and the only trouser was torn to the extent that it couldn’t be worn anymore. And I had no other trousers," he shared. After leaving his aunt’s house at 15, he never sought help from his family, determined to forge his own path.

 

 

 

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Further, Shabana Azmi, shared a moving anecdote, revealing that there was a period when he went without food for three days. "It was raining heavily, and from an apartment in a nearby building, he saw a faint light shining. He saw that light and said to himself: ‘I wasn’t born to die like this. This time shall pass.'”

Reflecting on those challenging times, Javed Akhtar was overcome with emotion, noting how the experience of deprivation has profoundly affected him. "If you have been deprived of food or sleep in your life, it leaves a deep mark on you that you’ll never forget," he said. Even when staying in luxury hotels, Javed is reminded of his past struggles. "Sometimes I’m served breakfast on a trolley, with butter, jam, half-fried eggs, coffee, and I think to myself: ‘Teri aukaat thi? Do I deserve this?’ Even now, it feels like this breakfast isn’t meant for me," he says.

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