Latest news with #Salim-Javed
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Javed Akhtar felt it was ‘impossible' for Shatrughan Sinha to pay Rs 60 as rent, refused to live with him: ‘You will get me evicted as well'
Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who arrived in Mumbai in the 1960s, faced his share of hardships before establishing himself in the Hindi film industry. From odd jobs to working as an assistant director, he eventually secured a writing position at Sippy Films in 1970 with a modest salary of Rs 175. But before this, he shared his struggles with contemporaries like actor Shatrughan Sinha and director Subhash Ghai, who were also struggling with him. In an interview with Mid-day, Javed recounted a humorous episode from those early days, when he lived in a small room and was approached by Shatrughan Sinha for accommodation. He recalled, 'Mere paas ek room aagaya tha… when I was doing well. Toh uska Rs 120 mahina kiraya tha… Rs 60 I used to give… and Rs 60, somebody else. Toh mere paas Shatru aaya, kehne laga ki tum mujhe rakh lo apne kamre mein. I said, 'Pagaal ho tum? Tum mujhe bhi nikalwa doge. Rs 60 mahina tum kahaan se laaoge? Har mahine tum Rs 60 de sakoge? Impossible.'' (I had managed to get a room… when things were starting to look up. The rent was Rs 120 per month. Rs 60 I paid, and the other half was paid by someone else. Then, Shatrughan came to me saying, 'Let me stay with you.' I said, 'Are you crazy? You'll get me evicted too. Where will you get Rs 60 from each month? Will you really be able to pay it? Impossible.') Also Read | Mr India was originally conceived for Amitabh Bachchan before Salim-Javed's split, Javed Akhtar reveals: 'I developed it completely on my own' Though Javed turned down the request, he noted how Sinha already displayed the confidence, style, and flair that would later define his screen persona. Still, the decision was firm. 'Maine use nahi rakha… I told him main tumko nahi rakh sakta.' (I didn't let him stay… I told him I can't keep you as a roommate.) Despite the early struggles, both men went on to become stalwarts in their respective fields. Shatrughan has previously claimed that films like Sholay and Deewaar, written by Salim-Javed, were first offered to him. In a 2000 chat with Rediff, Shatrughan claimed, 'Sholay, the role Amitabh played was first offered to me, but I didn't do it. During those days, I was coming as the lead star, and I didn't want to take a second lead character. The role passed on to Amitabh, and you know the rest. Or take Deewar — Salim-Javed wrote the role for me, initially, and it was lying with my producer for a long time. But then there was some difference of opinion between Salim Khan and the producer, and the film passed on to Yash Chopra. And Amitabh got the role.' With Amitabh and Shatrughan being professional rivals, and Salim-Javed writing most of Amitabh's hits of the time, it was perceived that the writer duo supported Big B, and not Shatrughan. Salim-Javed and Shatrughan collaborated on films like Kaala Patthar, Shaan and Dostana, but they all starred multiple heroes.
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Producer Anand Pandit on why Bollywood films struggle at the box office
Multiple high-budget Hindi films have been posting disappointing box-office collections and movies on OTT are thought to be attracting more viewers, says film producer Anand Pandit, because of a lack of originality as well as a forceful inclusion of item songs in recent years. in an interview to ANI on Tuesday, Pandit recalled the era of [screenwriting duo] Salim-Javed when films did spectacularly well at the box office just on the basis of the credit rolls. "I think there are two to three reasons. Earlier films were made, now more projects are made. Earlier, we writers and directors used to focus more on creative people," said Pandit. He added: "You must have seen a time when films were sold in the name of Salim-Javed. In the last five years, you might not even know that a big writer's film was sold. So, I think it's very important that we focus on how the film will perform at the box office." He complained of filmmakers ignoring the importance of the box office in India and said their primary focus remains on how to sell their films on OTT platforms rather than to the audience in theatres. "There was a time in the 80s and 90s when there was no collateral business," he said. He added, "Box office was the only business. So, keeping the audience in mind, whether they will buy the ticket and come to the cinema hall or not, keeping that in mind, films were written and made. Today, unfortunately, this is not happening because the mentality of OTT is different, the mentality of satellite is different, overseas is different." "The second issue is that we have completely become an inspired industry. We are inspired by the South, we are inspired by Korea, we are inspired by this language. So, the originality that was there earlier, that originality is not there today," he added. While giving the example of regional films, the producer spoke about the importance of spending money on writers. "The director has a vision, the producer has a vision, they have a conviction about the project, about the film. I think we should not move from there. But sometimes, the director is not so confident, or the producer is not so confident, and your hero becomes very overpowering," he added. The lack of conviction leads to a change in the scripts and the inclusion of unnecessary material in the movies, such as item songs. "And then, not according to the project, but according to their character, they make the change, then this project is ruined. So, the item number is sometimes very important for promotion. If you get a good item number, it is very helpful for promotion on television or social media." "And because of that item number, your music rights also increase. But if you forcefully put an item number, I think that picture also becomes boring, and its track is lost. So, I think, these things should be taken care of," he said.
