EXCLUSIVE: Javed Akhtar on marrying Shabana Azmi: Living with an independent strong-minded woman is not a bed of roses

Javed Akhtar and actress Shabana Azmi have been married since 1984. The writer-lyricist recently opened up on his much-talked-about second marriage on Arbaaz Khan‘s show The Invincibles on Bollywood Bubble. Javed Khan was earlier married to screenwriter Honey Irani and shares two children with her. Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar.

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A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18)

Javed Akhtar on Shabana Azmi

Speaking about the bond with his wife Shabana, Javed Akhtar said, “There are two women in my life with whom I share a very good bond of relationship. I have been very very friendly with Honey(his first wife) and Shabana is my best friend ultimately if I am ever in need of advice it is always Shabana.”

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Javed Akhtar on recipe to successful marriage

On being asked about the recipe for a successful marriage to Shabana, Javed Saab said, “I have a very simple advice just remove the word marriage. Think of two people, two friends, two brothers, two sisters, a man and a woman. If they are being with you despite not being happy about it, even though they may say that they are happy. If we believe that none of us is the sun and no one is the planet. The person in our life also has as much right to dream, to opinion, liberty and career as we have. There will be some of their habits that you won’t like but you will have to bear it. Because there will be some of your habits they too will not like.”

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A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18)

He added, “The reason to bear the things that you don’t like about the other person is that even they do not like some of your habits. A lot should be in common why are you with her? or she with you? Equality hurts your male ego but you have to understand and have to sacrifice. Let me tell you one thing, ‘ Living with an independent woman is not a bed of roses. Sometimes you have to push her, but you should always remember that she is your equal.”

“If your friend says something you don’t like you will say this is wrong and will not tolerate this. The same thing can be told to her too. But not like, ‘How can you talk to your husband in this manner? ‘ This should not happen.“

Watch the entire conversation with Javed Akhtar here:

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Javed Akhtar on his fallout with Salim Khan: I do not feel sorry because it ended in a special place