Javed Akhtar Reveals REAL Reason He, Salim Khan Split: ‘No Issue About Credit, We Just’
In an industry where partnerships rarely last, the split of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed had left many questioning the reasons behind their parting ways. After years of speculation and rumors, Javed Akhtar recently shed light on the factors that led to the dissolution of one of Bollywood’s most iconic partnerships. The duo, celebrated for writing epochal films such as Sholay, Deewaar, Zanjeer, and Don, ended their successful collaboration in 1982.
Partnerships in Cement Factory Are Easier, Says Akhtar
In a candid conversation with Barkha Dutt for Mojo Story, Javed Akhtar revisited the heydays of their partnership and opened up about the complexities of maintaining a writing partnership. “Partnership in a cement factory is easier”, he remarked, highlighting how business partnerships based on tangible goods and clear economic transactions are simpler to sustain compared to the intricate nature of creative collaborations. According to Akhtar, the essence of a writing partnership hinges on a “tremendous mental rapport”, a shared vision that becomes the lifeline for creativity. This intangible understanding, once disrupted, poses a significant challenge in continuing the partnership.
The Gradual Drift and The Final Conversation
Akhtar elucidated how success and the ensuing changes in their personal lives gradually drove a wedge between them. “When we began, both of us were nobodies, we only had each other,” he reflected. The simplicity of their early days, which was marked by endless conversations and shared aspirations, began to wane as they found success. New relationships, emerging interests, and expanding social circles inevitably introduced a distance in their once-close bond. However, Akhtar emphasized that their split was devoid of any conflict over credit or financial disputes. “We just grew apart,” he stated, underscoring that the split was a consequence of their evolving personal journeys rather than any professional disagreement.
An anecdote shared by Salim Khan in an earlier interview aligns with Akhtar’s narrative of a split marked by mutual understanding rather than acrimony. Khan recounted the evening he learned about Akhtar’s decision to split – a moment that, despite its potential for drama, was dealt with dignity and respect. The decision was communicated, understood, and respected without letting it degenerate into a bitter fallout. This reflects the profound respect and understanding that, despite their professional separation, continues to mark their personal relationship.
Reflections on a Shared Legacy
The partnership of Salim-Javed redefined the contours of Indian cinema in the 1970s, introducing storytelling templates and character archetypes that resonate to this day. Their collaboration not only produced cinematic masterpieces but also played a pivotal role in crafting the ‘Angry Young Man’ persona, immortalized by Amitabh Bachchan. Beyond their separation, the legacy of Salim-Javed as pioneers of nuanced, compelling narratives remains unblemished, admired by contemporaries and aspirants alike.
As the conversation around their split suggests, the end of Salim-Javed was not a tale of conflict and discord but a narrative of evolving personal journeys – a testament to the complexities of creative partnerships. In an industry often marred by fallouts, their story remains a rare narrative of mutual respect amidst professional divergence.