- By Swati Singh
- Wed, 14 Aug 2024 01:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Why did Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar Split? Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, a legendary Indian screenwriting duo, revolutionised Hindi cinema in the 1970s. They wrote 24 films together, with 20 being hugely successful, and pioneered the Bollywood blockbuster format. They introduced new genres like the "angry young man" archetype, masala films, Dacoit Westerns, and Bombay underworld crime films, moving away from traditional romance films. After splitting in 1982, Javed Akhtar wrote lyrics and scripts for numerous films, while Salim Khan wrote 10 scripts until 1996. They are credited together on two post-split films, Zamana and Mr. India, and their films had many South Indian remakes.
Why did Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar Split?
The partnership between Salim-Javed came to an abrupt end in early 1982, marking the conclusion of their 12-year collaborative journey. Unfortunately, the duo's professional relationship succumbed to the pitfalls of ego clashes, leading to an irreparable rift. Despite their remarkable success, not all of their 24 joint endeavours achieved box office triumph.
A handful of their films, including Aakhri Dao (1975), Immaan Dharam (1977), Kaala Patthar (1979), and Shaan (1981), failed to resonate with audiences and fell short of commercial expectations. These exceptions, however, do little to diminish the duo's overall impact on Indian cinema.
After the split, Salim Khan wrote scripts for 10 movies, including Naam, Kabzaa, and Patthar Ke Phool, but some failed at the box office. His son Salman Khan debuted in 1988 and became a successful actor, collaborating with Salim Khan in two films. Javed Akhtar wrote lyrics for 80 films and scripts for 20 films, working with his children's production company. The duo didn't speak until 2012, when a court case over the Zanjeer remake brought them together. Their last unofficial collaboration was for Baghban (2003), where they wrote speeches for Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan without credit.
Salim-Javed gear up for Angry Young Men
Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar are gearing up for their highly-anticipated docuseries, Angry Young Men, which has been backed by Salman Khan. This captivating three-part series delves into the transformative impact that Salim-Javed had on the landscape of Hindi cinema during the 1970s, courtesy of their groundbreaking scripts and the iconic Angry Young Man character that redefined the notion of heroism on the silver screen.