Shabana Azmi recalls Javed Akhtar's 1964 struggle: 'Slept on footpaths, nothing to eat for 3 days'
Synopsis
On the anniversary of Javed Akhtar's arrival in Mumbai, Shabana Azmi revealed that the legendary lyricist once had just 27 naye paise to his name, slept on footpaths, and went three days without food. The tribute is a rare, intimate window into the making of one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated creative minds.
Key Takeaways
Javed Akhtar arrived at Bombay Central Station on 4 October 1964 with only 27 naye paise in his pocket.
He slept on footpaths, railway stations, and studio compounds during his early years in Mumbai.
He once went three days without food , with only the 'shreds' of clothes on his body.
Along with Salim Khan , he formed the iconic Salim-Javed duo behind Sholay , Deewaar , Zanjeer , and Don .
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar married on 9 December 1984 .
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has shared a moving tribute to her husband, celebrated lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, recounting the extreme hardship he endured before rising to become one of Hindi cinema's most iconic voices. The tribute, posted on 4 October 2026, marked a milestone tied to the day Akhtar first arrived in Mumbai.
The Day a 19-Year-Old Arrived in Bombay
Sharing a rare throwback photograph of a young Javed Akhtar, Shabana wrote: '4th Oct 1964. A young lad arrived at Bombay Central Station with 27 naye paise in his pocket but with big dreams in his eyes.' The post described how life delivered him repeated blows in those early years — he slept on footpaths, at railway stations, and in the compounds of studios, with no stable shelter or support.
Among the starkest details she shared: 'A day came when he had nothing to eat for 3 days and the only clothes he had were the shreds on his body.' Yet, she wrote, on the edge of despair, Akhtar told himself: 'Main yunhi marne ke liye nahin paida nahin hua tha. Yeh din badlenge' — roughly, 'I was not born just to die like this. These days will change.'
From Near-Penniless Dreamer to Cultural Icon
Shabana framed the tribute as a message of hope as much as biography: '4th October 1964: a 19-year-old, almost penniless. 4th October 2026, decades later: a life that has given India some of its most memorable words.' She closed with the words, 'Never give up.'
Javed Akhtar went on to co-form the legendary screenwriting partnership Salim-Javed with Salim Khan, a duo widely credited with redefining Hindi cinema's commercial template through the 1970s and 1980s. Their scripts powered landmark films including Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, and Don — a body of work that remains a benchmark for mainstream Indian storytelling.
Lyricist, Poet, and Lawmaker
After parting ways with Salim Khan, Akhtar carved a second, equally distinguished career as a lyricist and poet. His verses have featured across generations of Hindi film music, earning him multiple Filmfare Awards and a Padma Bhushan. He has also served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, bringing his literary voice into the legislative sphere.
Personal Life
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar married on 9 December 1984. Both are regarded among the most respected figures in Indian arts and public life — Azmi for a screen career spanning over five decades, Akhtar for a writing legacy that cuts across cinema, music, and literature.
The tribute resonated widely as a reminder that some of the subcontinent's most enduring cultural contributions began with almost nothing except, as Shabana put it, a dream.
Point of View
Timed to the exact date of Akhtar's arrival in Mumbai 62 years ago. In an era when celebrity origin stories are routinely curated for brand value, what makes this account stand out is its specificity: 27 naye paise, three days without food, shreds of clothing. That level of detail is either meticulously remembered or meticulously told — either way, it lands. What mainstream coverage will underplay is how this story also speaks to the Mumbai of the 1960s: a city that was a genuine meritocratic lottery, where a teenager with no connections could eventually reshape popular culture. That city, and that kind of ascent, is considerably harder to replicate today.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shabana Azmi reveal about Javed Akhtar's early struggles?
Shabana Azmi revealed that Javed Akhtar arrived in Mumbai on 4 October 1964 with just 27 naye paise, slept on footpaths and railway stations, and once went three days without food. She shared the account alongside a rare throwback photograph of a young Akhtar.
When did Javed Akhtar first come to Mumbai?
Javed Akhtar arrived at Bombay Central Station on 4 October 1964, aged 19, according to Shabana Azmi's tribute post. He had almost no money and no fixed shelter when he first reached the city.
What is the Salim-Javed duo known for?
Salim-Javed — comprising Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan — is widely regarded as the most influential screenwriting partnership in Hindi cinema history. They wrote the scripts for Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, and Don, among other landmark films of the 1970s and 1980s.
When did Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar get married?
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar married on 9 December 1984. Both are considered icons of Indian arts and public life.
What was the message of Shabana Azmi's tribute post?
Beyond recounting hardship, Shabana's post carried an explicit message of perseverance, ending with the words 'Never give up.' She described Javed Akhtar's journey as proof that 'some journeys begin with almost nothing, except a dream.'
