ABP Network Ideas Of India 2023: Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar opened up about his drinking habits and why he quit alcohol at the second edition of ABP Network Ideas of India on Thursday. In a chat with author Chetan Bhagat, Akhtar discussed various topics – from his recent 26/11 comment, religion, and nationalism to his personal story of the split with Salim Khan and why he quit drinking alcohol.
About quitting alcohol
Recalling the days when he used to drink one bottle a day, the lyricist said, “There was a time I used to drink one bottle a day, never had any hangover. I used to enjoy drinking, it was a pleasure for me. Then one day I realised, I am not getting any younger, and if I keep drinking, there is no reason I should cross 52, 53.”
“The choice was between long life and pleasure, so I decided to quit. I kept toying with the idea for two years, then on 31 July 1991, I finished a big bottle of Bacardi and have never touched alcohol since then,” he added.
Akhtar also shared that after quitting, he never had any withdrawal symptoms, slept better, and his appetite increased. Continuing further, he also narrated how he quit smoking.
"Two or three years after I quit alcohol, I started getting breathless while walking. So, I visited a cardiologist on my family doctor’s advice. While waiting outside his office, I told Shabana, ‘once I go inside, the doctor will ask me to quit smoking, and I don’t want to quit on someone else’s insistence. So, I am quitting now’ and I threw my cigarette packet in the dustbin and went inside. Never smoked since then,” he said.
He also admitted that his biggest mistakes in life were made after drinking. “Agar main peeta nahi to galtiyaan kaise karta,” he said jokingly.
On Salim-Javed's success and split with Salim Khan
Javed Akhtar said he was always confident about his success, and the Salim-Javed duo was very confident and aggressive about their work. “We were young, had tremendous confidence, we were very aggressive about our work. In hindsight, I feel we could have been more diplomatic than we were,” he said.
Calling their split amicable and civilised, Akhtar revealed the reason behind breaking up a solid partnership that gave countless hits.
“Normal business partnership is easier, but writing partnership is a different ballgame. It is the input or brainstorming of two people and requires tremendous mental rapport. Over time, when we became successful, our primary goal was achieved, our dormant interests, which were secondary till now, started becoming important. We had a different friend circle, different interests, and soon we realised we were no longer the same people who started working,” he said.
When asked if he misses him, his reply was affirmative. The lyricist also revealed that his kids, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar are very close to Salim Khan and even Salman, Sohail, and Arbaaz are close to him.
Ideas Of India Is Back
ABP Network Ideas Of India summit is back for its second edition. On February 24 and 25, eminent personalities from all walks of life will share their thoughts on pertinent topics and issues, ranging from climate catastrophe to India’s position as a new global power player.
This year's speakers will share their thoughts on what constitutes ‘Naya India’ and how our country, now the fifth-largest economy, can position itself as a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.
This year, the ABP Network Ideas Of India summit — co-presented by Dabur Vedic Tea and co-powered by Dr Ortho, Gallant Advance, and Rajesh Masala (driven by Maruti Suzuki and with tech partner Panasonic) — will see notable speakers such as Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister Of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, musical artists Bickram Ghosh and Shubha Mudgal, authors Amitav Ghosh and Devdutt Pattanaik, actresses Sara Ali Khan, Yami Gautam, Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman, actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Manoj Vajpayee, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, sports stars Jwala Gupta and Vinesh Phogat, and many more.
You can stream it live below: