New Delhi: Renowned Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar talked about splitting with Salim Khan, the creative genius behind several iconic films. Despite being celebrated as the dynamic duo responsible for cinematic gems like ‘Sholay’ and ‘Zanjeer’, their professional alliance eventually weakened. In a recent interview, Javed reminisces on their humble beginnings, where the duo, known as Salim-Javed.
In an exclusive interview with Barkha Dutt for Mojo Story, Javed Akhtar delves into the evolution of their once inseparable bond. He said, “When we began, both of us were nobodies, we only had each other. So, we would spend a lot of time together, sit by the sea, talk about stories. He would come to my room, I had one paying guest room, or I would go to his house, which was a small one. But when you become bigger, more successful, many more people enter your life. Then all those desires which were dormant, all those interests which were dormant… The moment you have done something which was the main issue of your life or the main interest, you reach a satisfactory position and then all the other interests start emerging.”
Javed Akhtar explained that their parting was not because of disputes over credit or money but rather a natural drifting apart as they embarked on their personal journeys. He said, “You start meeting different kind of people and then gradually you become different people and that is what happened. We did not fight, there was no issue about credit, there was never any issue about money, there was nothing. We just grew apart. One realised that relationship is no longer there, that we now don’t sit together in the evening, we have our own set of friends. Gradually that happened and the rapport weakened, and it was reflecting on our work also."
Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan’s 12-year collaboration came to an end in 1982.