Latest news with #HoneyIrani
Pink Villa
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Javed Akhtar's first wife Honey Irani breaks silence on how ‘man with massive ego' transformed completely: ‘He was patronizing'
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar was earlier married to screenwriter and actress Honey Irani. The duo were blessed with two children Zoya and Farhan. However, things took a turn and their relationship eventually ended after which he married Shabana Azmi in 1984. Now, Honey has opened up about his behavior at the height of his success alongside Salim Khan. She revealed that he had a 'massive ego' and often came across as 'patronizing' with her and others. However, she acknowledged that he has changed completely now. In a recent conversation with Filmfare, Honey Irani was asked if Javed Akhtar had any ego during that time. She spilled the beans and revealed, 'Any sort of? He had a massive ego.' She further recalled how the veteran lyricist had an overwhelming ego and shared that he would often dismiss her opinions and make her feel unheard, believing she couldn't possibly understand. She shared, 'He used to say, 'You don't know what you're talking about,' or 'Tum nahi samjhogi (You won't understand)'.' Honey added, 'He was patronizing with other people too. When someone would try to advise them saying, 'Sir, aapko aise baat nahi karni chahiye… ya aapko yeh kar lena chahiye…' (Sir, you shouldn't speak like this, or you should do this instead). They would respond like, 'Don't tell us what to do, we know'.' She claimed that he was very 'arrogant' and she witnessed it firsthand. Honey Irani also revealed that if she ever confronted Javed Akhtar about his past behavior, she admitted that she did try to speak up, though whether he truly listened was another matter. She shared that his usual response was a dismissive agreement, ending the conversation without real change. However, the veteran actress also added how he has transformed over the years and is a complete opposite person now. She said, 'Now he is just the opposite. Especially with the way he gets along with youngsters — it's amazing, really.' Honey also recalled how, despite being impressed by many of Salim-Javed's scripts, a few didn't quite resonate with her. She gave examples of films like Immaan Dharam and Shaan that left her unconvinced. However, she highlighted the stature the writing duo held during their peak. For the unversed, Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani parted ways in 1978 and officially divorced in 1985, bringing their 11-year marriage to an end.
News18
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Was Shabana Azmi Responsible For Javed Akhtar's First Divorce? Honey Irani REVEALS Truth
Last Updated: Honey Irani said Javed Akhtar was looking for someone who was different from her. Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani got married in 1972 after dating for some time. They fell in love while working on Seeta aur Geeta, and their relationship was built on shared dreams, mutual respect and creativity. They even had two children, but their marriage didn't last due to personal differences. However, despite their separation, Honey and Javed continue to respect one another. In fact, Honey even defended Shabana Azmi, Javed's second wife, in a new interview and mentioned that she was not responsible for their marriage ending. 'Yes, it is true that during Seeta and Geeta, I fell in love with Javed Sir. Once, he asked me to pick a card during a game, and he won. He joked, 'You are so lucky for me, I think I should marry you.' We were dating for seven to eight months," Honey Irani told Filmfare. Reflecting on their separation in the 80s, Honey said, 'I did feel angry and all during my separation with Javed Akhtar, but I've never been dramatic. I did feel this was not working, and I have always said it was never because of Shabana. I don't know what to call it." She added, 'Maybe he was looking for something totally different from me, which I had. There is a lot of love and respect to date between us. I know he will never say anything or do anything that will harm my children; that is one thing I am confident about. So, I guess that made it easy." Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani were once considered one of Bollywood's most talented couples. Their marriage brought together two creative minds—Javed, a poet and screenwriter who would go on to become one of India's most celebrated lyricists, and Honey, a former child actress who later carved her own niche as a screenwriter. Their relationship began with promise, but eventually gave way to personal differences and emotional turbulence that led to their separation. Honey Irani emerged as a successful screenwriter with films like Lamhe, Kya Kehna, and Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, gaining recognition in her own right. Javed Akhtar, meanwhile, married Shabana Azmi, a noted actress and activist, in 1984. Their marriage has been characterised by shared intellectual interests and a deep engagement with social and political issues.
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Javed Akhtar had ‘massive ego', was dismissive and patronising towards first wife Honey Irani: ‘Tum nahi samjhogi'
In a candid interview with Filmfare, veteran writer and former actor Honey Irani opened up about her time with acclaimed screenwriter Javed Akhtar during the peak of his legendary partnership with Salim Khan. The iconic duo was known as Salim-Javed. At a time when they were ruling mainstream Hindi cinema, Honey had a front-row seat to both their creative genius and the power dynamics that came with success. When asked if Javed Akhtar had any sort of ego during that period, Honey didn't hesitate. In fact, she pushed back at the question itself: 'Any sort of? He had a massive ego.' Reflecting on those days, she said, 'Massive, massive ego. He used to say, 'You don't know what you're talking about,' or 'Tum nahi samjhogi (You won't understand)'.' She continued, 'He was patronising with other people too. When someone would try to advise them saying, 'Sir, aapko aise baat nahi karni chahiye… ya aapko yeh kar lena chahiye…' (Sir, you shouldn't speak like this, or you should do this instead). They would respond like, 'Don't tell us what to do, we know.' So they had that, they had arrogance. And I have seen that.' Also Read | Salim Khan recalls the moment when Javed Akhtar wanted to end their partnership: 'I stopped and said I can look after myself' When asked whether she ever confronted Javed Akhtar about this behaviour, she replied, 'Bolte toh thay hum… par agar woh sune toh. He would just say, 'Haan, you're right. Absolutely right (I used to tell him. But only if he listened. He would just say, 'Yes, you're right. Absolutely right)'.' However, Honey was quick to point out how much he has evolved over the years. 'Now he is just the opposite. Especially with the way he gets along with youngsters — it's amazing, really.' In the same conversation, Honey Irani also shared her thoughts on some of the iconic films penned by Salim-Javed. While she appreciated many of their scripts, a few didn't resonate with her. Films such as Immaan Dharam and Shaan, didn't particularly appeal to her. Still, she recognised the immense stature the duo held in the industry back then, noting that offering them feedback wasn't really an option. Their influence and pride left little room for critique. Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani were married for 11 years before parting ways in 1985. In past interviews, Javed Akhtar has openly spoken about how his struggle with alcohol addiction strained their relationship. He admitted that he was heavily addicted to alcohol for nearly 20 years, which took a toll on both his personal and professional life. In the same interview with Filmfare, Honey Irani reflected on their marriage, saying they were very young and, in her words, 'extremely foolish' at the time. She admitted she knew early on that the marriage wasn't going to work. Irani also clarified that their separation had nothing to do with Javed's second wife, Shabana Azmi.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Honey Irani recalls falling in love with Javed Akhtar on the sets of Seeta Aur Geeta, says she later felt the marriage wasn't working: ‘It was never because of Shabana…'
Though they are no longer married, screenwriter Honey Irani and lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar now share a close and enduring friendship. In several interviews over the years, Akhtar has spoken candidly about the deep bond they continue to share, saying he feels comfortable confiding everything in her. Likewise, Irani has expressed admiration and affection for her former husband. However, not many know that the two first fell in love in the 1970s while working together on the sets of the film Seeta Aur Geeta. In a recent conversation with Filmfare, Irani opened up about the early days of their relationship. 'Yes, it is true that during Seeta and Geeta, I fell in love with Javed Sir. Once, he asked me to pick a card during a game, and he won. He joked, 'You are so lucky for me, I think I should marry you.' We were dating for seven to eight months,' she revealed. Honey Irani also spoke about the couple's separation in the 1980s and reflected on how she handled the difficult time with maturity. 'I did feel angry and all during my separation with Javed Akhtar, but I've never been dramatic. I did feel this was not working, and I have always said, it was never because of Shabana. I don't know what to call it. Maybe he was looking for something totally different from me, which I had. There is a lot of love and respect to date between us. I know he will never say anything or do anything that will harm my children; that is one thing I am confident about. So, I guess that made it easy.' Also Read | Honey Irani was 'bitter, felt rejected' when Javed Akhtar had an affair with Shabana Azmi, but she never banned their kids from seeing him Their son, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, has also spoken publicly about how his parents' separation affected him as a child. 'It was difficult. A certain aspect of it was, of course, that I had been through having divorced parents when I was a kid. I know what it felt like and there was a huge part of me that was like—I cannot do this to my own kids,' Farhan admitted.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Honey Irani says people began taking her seriously after she wrote Lamhe: ‘Someone said I'd ghost-write Salim-Javed's work'
Honey Irani may not have written a screenplay in over a decade, but her sense of lending visuals to words hasn't faded by any stretch. As she describes the way to her home to me on the phone, I can see a crystal clear picture with all its sights, smells and sounds. 'You take a U-turn from Shah Rukh's house, keep moving ahead next to the sea, and you'll find mine right there, surrounded by a dense cover of almond trees.' Once I get there, we talk about everything screenwriting — the three-act structure that is her life, how she found her voice after divorce from another iconic screenwriter Javed Akhtar, and raising two screenwriters in Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. I see your career as a three-act structure. First, as a child artiste. Second, as a homemaker, wife and mother. And third, as a screenwriter. Your last film as an actor was Ramesh Sippy's Seeta Aur Geeta (1975), where you met Javed Akhtar, who was a screenwriter there. You took a break after that, but did you ever want to go back to the set as an actor? No, I was done with acting. Because I'd been working since I was two-and-a-half years old. So I wasn't really into it as such. But roles kept coming, I became quite popular, so my mom said, 'Let's do it.' I really didn't enjoy it. So I was happy that it ended. No regrets (laughs). How did acting happen to you at such a young age? My elder sister (Daisy Irani) was already in movies, and she was a big star. And Dulal Guha ji, the director, had come to sign her for some film. I was playing around in the hall when my mother was talking to him. While talking, he removed his hat and he was bald. I found that funny somehow and I said, ' Mumma ye toh takla hai.' I got a tight slap. The guy started laughing. He asked my mom if she doesn't mind, can he cast me because he didn't know such a young child could speak so clearly. That's unfortunately how I got into films. That's my claim to fame (laughs). I used to hate it. I was always lured by ice cream and going to a fair, but I'd see the studio gate and start howling. But later on, I got very comfortable with it because of certain actors who I became very close with, like Rajendra Kumar, Meena Kumari, Nutan, Motilal, Balraj Sahni and Nanda. Then I actually wanted to go to the studio and not be at home. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priya (@bollywoodtriviapc) Why do you call this phase unfortunate then? Because I wasn't educated. We would never go to school because we used to do two shifts at that time. The school would throw us out because we couldn't take so many leaves. My mother would keep a tutor, but you don't want to study after a day of shoot. At that age, you just want to play. So somehow I passed the fifth standard and that was it. My sister didn't even do that, she just passed her fourth. Didn't being on a film set become a kind of education for you as a screenwriter? It helped a lot. People are surprised how my diction is so clear, given that I'm a Parsi. I was quite well-trained on set. For example, Balraj ji told my mother don't keep a Hindi or Urdu tutor for her. Just let her sing songs so that her diction improves and she'll enjoy it too. Is it true that Javed sahab encouraged you to become a screenwriter? Why did you become one only after your divorce? When I was with Javed sahab, I'd keep scribbling short stories. He caught hold of that notebook and said, 'You're good at it. You should try writing.' But I never narrated it to anyone else because they'd think ye Javed ki biwi hai toh apne aap ko bhi writer samajh rahi hai. After we got divorced, I was very close to Yash Chopra and Pamela Chopra. They were looking for something for television because it had just started. So I narrated a short story to Pam, which she really liked. After working on it, Yash ji said it won't be a TV show, but a film, which turned out to be Aaina (1993). But Lamhe (1991) released first. Are you also sick of hearing that the film was 'ahead of its time'? I didn't feel that it was ahead of its time, but everyone said it just to make us feel better after it didn't work. That's a way of consoling somebody. It was somewhere in my mind that the audience may not accept an age-gap romance. Although young girls would be married to old men back then, that was conveniently overlooked. Lamhe not working was a major jhatka for all of us. But we were quite aware that it'd backfire. We'd even written different endings for it. But Yash ji said, 'Why are we so afraid? Nahi chalegi toh nahi chalegi, but that's my conviction. What you've written is perfect. Let's go ahead with it.' Anil Kapoor and Sridevi starred together in Lamhe. Even if Lamhe didn't work, did its release give you personal validation after your divorce? Of course, it did. People had started taking me seriously. Somebody had even written that after watching Lamhe, he thinks Honey would've ghost-written Javed sahab 's scripts (laughs). I called him up and said, 'Please don't do this.' But you would've had an impact on how he wrote, right? In The Romantics, a docuseries on Yash Raj Films, it's established that his wife Pamela had a deep influence on how Yash Chopra portrayed women characters. Was that also not the case with your contribution in Salim-Javed's writing? No, I won't say that. Honestly, I can't take credit for that. I wouldn't even get to listen to his narrations. I'd directly see the film during trial or premiere. I didn't even have the audacity to give feedback then because dono ka para itna chadha hua tha (laughs). But I'd be quite direct when I didn't like something. Like I saw Shaan (1980), I was quite disappointed. When I watched Immaan Dharam (1977), I thought everyone's being so noble, I'd get diabetes. They'd be very scared that I'd speak anything in front of anyone. Your women characters are far more nuanced than those in Salim-Javed's films. Don't you think so? No, I won't say that. Like Parveen Baby's character in Deewaar (1975) is very nice. She was a prostitute, yet the voice of reason to Amitabh Bachchan 's character. Leading ladies weren't conceived like this at that time. Women characters barely had anything to do in films then, including theirs. Except Don (1978), where Zeenat Aman had a lot to do. Or even Sholay, for that matter. Do you think your films, considered ahead of their time, were difficult to cast because of that reason? Ya, like we did have a little problem while doing Aaina. We wanted Dimple Kapadia to do the negative role. Though she's a very good friend, she said, 'I'll pass this.' Similarly, Aamir Khan refused the negative role in Darr (1993) because of his image. In fact, I'd told Sunny Deol that for a change, he should do the negative role. He liked it very much, so I said, 'Then do it! It'll give you a new dimension.' He said, 'No, the audience won't accept it.' But the audience accepted it and how. Shah Rukh Khan became the villain, then he became the lover boy too. It's just your perspective of how you see yourself. It's all in your head. If you do a good job, people will accept it. Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan in Darr. I've observed that there was one character in some of your films, who was on the edge, whether it's Shah Rukh in Darr, Amrita Singh in Aaina, or Preity Zinta in Armaan (2003). Where did that come from? With Aaina, I thought if both the sisters are the same, it'd be very boring. I was fed up of siblings or friends sacrificing for each other over their common love at that time. ' Tum le jao, nahi tum le jao, arey ladki koi cheez hai jo tum le jao? ' That's why I was retaliating. Why can't there be obsession in a man who's crazy, yet loves you despite your marriage. Why can't there be jealousy among sisters? But it's interesting that thanks to his obsession, Shah Rukh's character in Darr has to die at the end, while the sisters in Aaina (Amrita and Juhi Chawla) reconcile. Why was that the case? Because he's more violent. In Aaina, when Jackie Shroff's character tells Amrita's what she's done, she agrees. Even in Armaan, Preity's realises she's ruined the life of Anil Kapoor's character. She doesn't have to kill herself for that. That would've been overdramatic. Nobody does that. That's also another common theme in your films — evolved love triangles. The one who doesn't find love expresses insecurity, but eventually comes around, whether it's Lamhe, Aaina, or Kya Kehna (2000). Does that come from your personal life? You divorced Javed sahab, but are now in an evolved space to be family with not only him, but also his wife Shabana Azmi. Ya, I guess so. It must be somewhere inside me. I can't keep a grudge against anyone. Initially, maybe, but not more than a week! Then I just forgive and forget. But if you see Kya Kehna, Preity's character doesn't marry Saif Ali Khan 's because he's not dependable. That wasn't true love. He realizes it now that she's dating somebody else. But she wants to get away from him because he's treated her very badly. If you don't respect a person, how can you marry them? It was a very different ending for that time. Everybody was scared. Kundan Shah (director) said, 'You'll have me thrown out from the industry!' But Ramesh Taurani (producer) was on my side. He even refused to shoot two climaxes. People did accept it. It was a huge hit. Chandrachur Singh, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan in Kya Kehna. Did screenwriting come as an escape for you after your divorce? Maybe for the first few years. But then we became the best of friends. He has a lot of respect for me today, and so do I for him. The children also respect him. And Shabana is a dear friend. How come you and Javed sahab never collaborated as screenwriters after your directorial debut, Armaan? It wasn't like we were writing together. He had written the dialogues. While doing that, if his suggestions for the screenplay made sense, I incorporated them. I definitely gave him the additional screenplay credit because he did work on it. His working way is very different from mine. He's just about started waking up early. There was no question of that in the past. And then, there's the ego more than anything else. Not that we've tried writing together anyway. I think we're better off individually. Let's not take that panga (laughs). Javed Akhtar photographed with his wife Shabana Azmi, ex-wife Honey Irani, kids Farhan and Zoya and Farhan's wife Shibani. (Photo: Shabana Azmi/Instagram) You also worked with Manmohan Desai on Bodyguard, a film that never took off. He had a very different sensibility from Yash Chopra. How did that pan out? I enjoyed thoroughly working with him. It was a very different genre for me. He'd asked Yash Chopra whether I'd be able to write a Manmohan Desai film. In our first meeting, he asked me to keep my pen and paper on the table and said this is not a Satyajit Ray film (laughs). Unfortunately, it took some time in casting because we needed Sunny, Sanjay Dutt, and Anil Kapoor, so there were some date issues. Then Man ji passed away. Rakesh Roshan always pushed the boundaries of reality and teased something supernatural, from Karan Arjun (1995) to Krrish 3 (2013). As his screenwriter, did you struggle with those concepts, of how far can you can go to and where you can't? I always feel the emotion is very important. If it's genuine, and not imposed, it works. That's also what Rakesh ji believes in. If that comes into the script, you're through. All storylines were his. When he proposed we make Krrish (2006), a superhero film, out of Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), a sci-fi movie, I wondered if we'd be able to make it. It shouldn't look tacky! It involved heavy production, so Rakesh ji used to joke that he'd reduce the fees of the writers (laughs). When you worked on the Krrish franchise, you were part of a writers room before that term was even coined probably. There was you, Rakesh Roshan, Sachin Bhowmik, Robin Bhatt, and Akasrsh Khurana, across age groups and backgrounds. How was that experience? That was great fun, no doubt. It started with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000). They already had a writer, Ravi Kapoor. But Rakesh ji wanted another, so he asked me if I mind working with him. I said, 'Not at all! He's a senior writer. I'd love to work with him.' Then we did Koi… Mil Gaya, and more writers were joining us. It was a blast! Rakesh ji used to ask us, ' Tum log ladoge toh nahi?' But not once have we had an argument or chillam-chilli. From Sachin da, the most senior, to Akarsh, the youngest. We used to tease him a lot! 's Krrish 3 was Honey Irani's last film as a screeenwriter. Krrish 3 was your last film as a screenwriter. Why did you stop writing? Honestly, I thought I'd stopped growing. New minds have come in. I don't think they're comfortable with seniors. They think that we'd bring back the sensibility of the 1960s and '70s. So much for being ahead of my time (laughs)! This generation of writers haven't brought anything of their own, unlike my generation. We'd witnessed life. They just write what they've witnessed on screen. Inka apna kya hai? It's very hollow. I tell my children also, 'Why are you so scared of emotions?' You should project emotions. It's a very important part of our lives. It's not melodrama. That's how people are. So what keeps you busy now? Most of my time, I spend in Coonoor because it's a quiet place to sit and write. Mumbai isn't Mumbai anymore. When I come back, I ask why have I! The pollution, the roads dug up, so many people! And with the two Khans living on Bandra Bandstand, it's quite a mess on weekends! Now, I've published two children's books, and may do more. Nishi Prem (former Stardust editor) and I have written a web series for Zoya and Reema. I don't know if it's happening or not, because Zoya said, 'Mom, you've written such an expensive show!' Also Read — 'Shah Rukh Khan's character in Darr could have raped Juhi Chawla's Kiran', says writer Honey Irani, defends his behaviour as 'genuine love' How do you think Zoya and Reema complement each other as writers? Superbly! Look at their latest film, Superboys of Malegaon. It's heartbreaking that people didn't go to watch it in theatres. Aur fir bolte hain ki achhi picture nahi banti. Aur dekhenge Nadaaniyan! How sad is that! Then they say we only promote star kids. When we promote others, you don't go and watch them. You should promote them! Why would a producer invest in them if you don't watch them? That's also what happened with The Archies. The trolling of the three star kids (Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, and Agastya Nanda) hijacked the entire film, which also had five other newcomers who were outsiders. It's very depressing! And the kind of trolling they do, there's a line to it. If you don't like a film, just say it's sh*t. Don't go down the line of telling her things about her mother. This kind of trolling should be banned. What are you expecting them to do, kill themselves? Why do you need to stoop this low? It's your frustration, na. It's hurting that people can be so cruel and mean. I wonder what kind of upbringing they've had.
