Javed Akhtar speaks up...
Not
much
has
been
heard
about
your
initial
phase
in
Bollywood?
I
landed
in
Bombay
in
October'64
after
completing
my
graduation
from
Bhopal.
My
first
job
(at
a
studio)
gave
me
a
handsome
salary
of
Rs.50
per
month.
And
I
used
to
sleep
in
the
studio
itself.
Later
I
got
to
write
a
few
dialogues
for
a
writer
who
could
not
do
so,
due
to
his
illness.
And
that
got
me
my
second
job
that
doubled
my
pay.
But
it
was
not
until
1968
that
I
got
credited
for
a
film
called
Yaqeen.
The
struggle
continued
till
1970,
when
I
managed
to
get
my
first
full
fledged
project.
As
a
writer,
what
changes
do
you
see
in
the
hero
of
the
70s
and
that
of
today?
Earlier,
the
hero
used
to
be
a
clerk,
a
teacher,
a
police
officer.
He
used
to
be
a
middle-class
person,
who
used
to
mingle
with
the
crowd,
move
around
in
traffic
jams.
Today,
the
hero
lives
in
a
plush
house,
does
nothing,
and
he
steps
out
of
his
house
straight
into
Switzerland,
Australia
and
New
Zealand.
And
there
is
nothing
wrong
in
that.
Times
have
changed
and
with
the
coming
in
of
corporates
I
see
more
changes.
There
has
been
a
lot
of
hue
and
cry
about
the
remaking
of
classics,
your
views?
Why
not?
It
has
been
done
in
Hollywood
since
a
long
time
and
many
such
remakes
have
won
Oscars
also.
I
think
'
Devdas'
was
a
very
good
remake
of
the
Bimal
Roy
classic
by
Bhansali.
How
does
it
feel
that
after
Don
as
a
director,
Farhan
(along
with
Riteish)
has
succeeded
as
a
producer
with
Honeymoon
Travels
Pvt.
Ltd.?
It
feels
wonderful
as
a
father
because
Farhan
is
finding
success
consistently
in
almost
all
his
endeavours.
Attempts
were
made
to
sabotage
'Don'
from
day
one,
any
reason
for
that?
Well,
for
me
the
movie
is
a
big
success
and
that
is
all
that
matters.
Is
there
any
truth
in
'Don'
sequel
being
made
by
Farhan?
I
cannot
comment
on
that,
better
ask
the
man
at
the
helm
of
affairs,
Farhan!
Your
daughter
Zoya
Akhtar
is
making
a
film
called
Kismat
Talkies.
Is
it
the
same
project
that
was
publicized
as
Nargis?
Yes,
she
is
working
on
Kismat
Talkies
and
it
is
the
same
project
that
was
wrongly
publicized
as
Nargis.
That
was
never
the
title.
Are
you
writing
the
lyrics
for
Karan
Johar's
next
(once
again
after
Kank),
featuring
Shah
Rukh
Khan
and
being
publicized
as
Khan?
Yes,
I
am
but
I
am
not
aware
of
the
title
you
mention.
Is
Kajol
making
her
comeback
with
Shah
Rukh
Khan?
Kajol
has
already
made
her
comeback!
No,
with
Shah
Rukh
Khan
Maybe
In
today's
times,
when
the
lyrics
are
written
after
the
tune
has
been
composed,
which
of
the
music
directors
makes
it
difficult
for
you?
No
one
makes
it
difficult
as
such,
but
with
A.R.Rahman,
it
becomes
challenging,
as
the
tunes
are
of
different
time
durations
(sometimes
for
the
same
couplet!).
Late
Majrooh
Sultanpuri
was
a
master
at
this.
You
have
been
very
selective
about
the
composers
you
work
with,
but
for
the
first
time,
you
are
working
with
a
mainstream,
commercial
music
director
like
Himesh
Reshammiya.
How
was
the
experience?
It
was
a
wonderful
experience.
Himesh
told
me,
Javed
Sahab,
you
write
whatever
you
feel
like.
I
will
compose
the
music
accordingly.
I
am
very
happy
with
the
success
of
its
music
and
also
the
fact
that
the
film
has
been
appreciated
and
is
doing
well.
Don't
you
have
two
scripts
ready?
Who
is
the
lucky
director/maker?
You
have
me
in
a
spot!
I
would
not
like
to
say
anything
at
this
point
of
time.
Just
wait
for
two
more
months
and
you
will
know
it
all.
Any
chances
of
seeing
you
as
a
director?
Highly
unlikely
at
this
point
of
time