Javed Akhtar spotted writing in Urdu by hand in study glimpse
Synopsis
In an age of AI-generated scripts and digital drafts, Javed Akhtar was spotted writing in Urdu, longhand, in his study — captured by Shabana Azmi in a quietly viral Instagram post. For a man born into a dynasty of Urdu poets, it is less a nostalgic gesture and more a statement of identity.
Key Takeaways
Shabana Azmi shared a photograph of Javed Akhtar writing in Urdu by hand in his study on her Instagram on Sunday, 1 June 2025 .
Actress Urmila Matondkar commented on the post, calling Akhtar 'The Legend.' Javed Akhtar , born in 1945 in Gwalior , comes from a multi-generational family of Urdu writers including his father Jan Nisar Akhtar and grandfather Muztar Khairabadi .
As one half of Salim-Javed , Akhtar co-wrote over a dozen landmark Hindi films before the duo split in 1982 .
Akhtar married Shabana Azmi on 9 December 1984 ; his children from his first marriage include filmmakers Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar .
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi on Sunday, 1 June 2025, offered fans a rare peek into the creative sanctuary of her husband, celebrated lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, sharing a panoramic photograph of his study on her official Instagram handle. The image showed the 79-year-old literary icon absorbed in his work — writing in Urdu, pen and paper in hand, in a quiet rebuke to the age of artificial intelligence.
The Study That Caught Everyone's Attention
Azmi captioned the post simply: 'The writer in his study ..(sic)' — letting the image speak for itself. The room, lined with a large collection of books and framing a scenic view through its door, quickly drew admiring responses. Actress Urmila Matondkar commented, calling Akhtar 'The Legend..in his study.'
What struck observers most was the deliberate choice of medium: in an era when generative AI tools are reshaping how creative professionals draft scripts and lyrics, Akhtar was seen composing his latest work the old-fashioned way — longhand, in Urdu script.
A Literary Legacy Rooted in Urdu Tradition
Javed Akhtar was born on 17 January 1945 in Gwalior into a family steeped in Urdu letters. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a songwriter for Hindi cinema and a noted Urdu poet. The literary lineage runs even deeper: his paternal grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, and his grandfather's elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, were both accomplished writers. Akhtar spent much of his formative years in Lucknow before graduating from Saifiya College in Bhopal.
The Salim-Javed Era and a Career That Defined Hindi Cinema
Akhtar rose to iconic status as one half of the celebrated screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, alongside Salim Khan. Together they scripted a defining chapter of Hindi cinema, delivering landmark films including 'Andaz' (1971), 'Zanjeer' (1973), 'Deewaar' (1975), 'Sholay' (1975), 'Don' (1978), and 'Mr. India' (1987), among others. The partnership dissolved in 1982, marking the end of one of Bollywood's most prolific creative collaborations.
Post the split, Akhtar reinvented himself as a lyricist, amassing multiple Filmfare and National Film Awards and cementing a second, equally distinguished chapter in his career.
Personal Life: Javed and Shabana
When Shabana Azmi and Akhtar first met, he was married to his first wife, Honey Irani, and was father to two children — filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and director Zoya Akhtar. The couple eventually married on 9 December 1984, a partnership that has since become one of Hindi cinema's most enduring creative and personal unions.
The study snapshot, though brief, is a reminder that some of India's finest storytelling still begins with ink on paper — and that for Javed Akhtar, Urdu remains the language of first thought.
Point of View
But the subtext is pointed: one of Hindi cinema's greatest wordsmiths, born into an Urdu literary dynasty, choosing pen and paper over keyboards and AI tools is a quiet act of cultural resistance. At a moment when the film industry is actively debating AI's role in scriptwriting and lyrics, Akhtar's study photograph lands as more than a domestic glimpse — it is, intentionally or not, a position statement. Shabana Azmi's framing of it as simply 'the writer in his study' only sharpens the contrast.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shabana Azmi share about Javed Akhtar?
Shabana Azmi shared a panoramic photograph of Javed Akhtar writing in Urdu by hand in his study, posting it on her official Instagram handle with the caption 'The writer in his study.' The post drew wide attention and admiring comments from fellow film personalities.
Why is Javed Akhtar writing in Urdu significant?
Javed Akhtar comes from a multi-generational Urdu literary family — his father Jan Nisar Akhtar was an Urdu poet and his grandfather Muztar Khairabadi was also a writer. His continued use of handwritten Urdu script, particularly in the current era of AI-assisted writing, is seen as a reflection of his deep-rooted literary heritage.
Who are Javed Akhtar's famous children?
Javed Akhtar's children from his first marriage to Honey Irani are filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar and director Zoya Akhtar, both prominent figures in contemporary Hindi cinema.
What films did the Salim-Javed duo write?
The Salim-Javed partnership — comprising Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan — scripted several defining Hindi films including 'Zanjeer' (1973), 'Deewaar' (1975), 'Sholay' (1975), 'Don' (1978), and 'Mr. India' (1987), before the duo split in 1982.
When did Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi get married?
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi married on 9 December 1984, after first meeting while Akhtar was still married to his first wife, Honey Irani.
