Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s much-awaited documentary Angry Young Men is finally out on OTT. In a fascinating revelation, Salim Khan shared that he had initially refused to act as the best man at Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani’s wedding in 1984. Khan was superstitious and believed that his presence as the best man could cause the marriage to not last. Despite this belief, he eventually agreed to Javed’s request and attended the wedding, only to be proven right again as Javed and Honey eventually separated.

Salim said: “Honey was a very good friend of mine.

Javed suggested her name during the casting of Seeta aur Geeta. They were soon smitten with their relationship. Honey Irani’s mother told Javed, “I don’t like you coming here every day. You should marry her.” Javed Akhtar added, “Salim saab said, ‘To get married, you need two witnesses.’ I said you are in. Of course, I wouldn’t choose anyone else.”
Javed Akhtar added: “He said, ‘Don’t make a witness.’ I asked why. He said, ‘All the marriages I have witnessed have broken up.’ I am not a superstitious person at all. I said I don’t believe in such things. You will be my witness. But then it turned out he was right.”
On the other hand, Farhan Akhtar’s daughter Zoya will be the iconic legacy of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed in their upcoming crime thriller Mafia filmSalim Khan and Javed Akhtar worked together on 24 films, 22 of which achieved blockbuster status. Their work revolutionized narrative Style of Bollywood, introduction of complex Characters and morally ambiguous storylines in classics like Sholay, Deewaar and Zanjeer.

As the Gully Boy director embarks on this new project, she reflects on the influence of Salim-Javed’s work. In an interview with the Indian Express, she stressed that “her writing was never vulgar, even the heroes had their ambiguity.” This sentiment sums up the essence of her storytelling, where characters are not simply good or bad, but exist in a nuanced grey area.
The collaboration between Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar is often cited as reshaping the Indian cinema landscape. Their scripts featured strong narratives and layered characters that resonated with audiences. Akhtar’s new film aims to explore the themes and styles that made Salim-Javed’s work so effective.

The ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ director admired the duo’s ability to create characters that reflect the complexities of real life. She noted that their characters were rarely black and white, but often embodied shades of grey that made them relatable and memorable. This complexity is something Akhtar tries to incorporate into her own films, as she believes it adds depth and realism to the storytelling.
One of the notable aspects of Salim-Javed’s works is their portrayal of women. Despite the male-centric narratives, Akhtar points out that the duo consistently portrayed women with agency and identity. She noted, “Even though these were male-led stories, none of the women were props. They all had a job.”
Zoya also highlighted that her brother Farhan Akhtar once remarked on the dignity with which Parveen Babi’s character was portrayed in Deewaar. He stressed that her role as a night worker was treated with respect, which showed the humanity and depth that Salim-Javed breathed into their characters.
Zoya Akhtar acknowledges the influence Salim-Javed had on her filmmaking. She believes that respect for ensemble casts and the importance of character development are lessons she learnt from their scripts. Akhtar explained, “The fact that they (Salim-Javed) didn’t resort to cheap tricks, they were never vulgar. That influenced our work.”
Zoya Akhtar’s upcoming crime mafia film is expected to be inspired by the rich storytelling tradition established by Salim-Javed. The filmmaker, known for her critically acclaimed works like Gully Boy and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, is currently in the scripting phase of this project. Expressing her excitement about working in a genre that Salim-Javed excelled in, she stated, “I am working on the crime mafia film! I am working on the script right now. So fingers crossed that something comes out of it, something weighty!”