Angry Young Men: Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra Discuss Salim-Javed's Legacy Amid The Release Of Their Super-Hit Docu Series

Javed Akhtar's wife Shabana Azmi and Dharmendra discuss Salim-Javed amid Angry Young Men success

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Angry Young Men: Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra Discuss Salim-Javed's Legacy Amid The Release Of Their Super-Hit Docu Series
Amazon’s docu-series  Angry Young Men on the phenomenal partnership of Salim and Javed has  so much to say about the screenwriting superstar duo.Speaking on his partnership with Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar tells, “It was what it was. We never got together to make history.  We just wanted to write interesting stories in a way that had not been attempted  in Hindi cinema before.” ALSO READ: Salman Khan Expresses His Desire To Remake Sholay: Can Play Both Jay, Veeru And Gabbar – WATCH 

But what does  Javed Akhtar’s  better half Shabana  Azmi have  to say  about the much-talked  about docu-series?

Over to  Shabana:  “I loved it. It is  a fair and  revealing  illustration  of  what  Salim-Javed mean  to Indian cinema.  I was especially moved  by the third episode. This story HAD to be documented. Kudos to Salman Khan, Zoya Akhtar and  Farhan Akhtar who made it possible. The  kids wanted  their father’s  real story  of  Salim and  Javed to go out.And it did!”

Veteran  actor Dharmendra who was part of Salim-Javed’s most successful collaboration  Sholay regrets turning down Zanjeer.  “When I read the script, I could see it was a fabulous opportunity for any actor. Contrary  to  what has been written,I didn’t say no to Zanjeer  because I had  no songs . What nonsense! In Yaadon Ki Baraat which was released  at the same time  as Zanjeer and was  also written by Salim-Javed, I  had  no songs to sing.  I happily did it.In any case I was not comfortable  lip-syncing songs”

So what was the real reason for Dharamji’s refusal to  do Zanjeer? “I will tell you. It was  a  vow  I made  to a very dear aunt of mine. She was hurt by Prakash Mehra’s  behaviour and she  made me promise I wouldn’t work with him.For me family ties have  always been  more important than films.Anyway I am glad Amit(Bachchan) did Zanjeer. It made his  career.”


 Did Dharamji recommend Amitabh Bachchan for Sholay?

The  affable legend laughs shyly. “Who told you this? It is  true. I did put in a word. Baqi toh sab oopar wale ki meherbani. I must tell you the real star of  Sholay was Salim-Javed’s script. The writing was zabardast. I am fortunate to have  worked in a number of film scripted by them,   Seeta Aur Geeta, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Chacha Bhatija and  of course Sholay.”

Image Source: Twitter
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