Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, famously known as the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, changed the face of Hindi cinema in the 1970s and early 80s. They created some of Bollywood’s most iconic blockbusters like Sholay, Zanjeer, Deewar, Don, Trishul, and many others. Their partnership gave birth to the “angry young man” image that turned Amitabh Bachchan into a superstar.
However, in 1982, this iconic partnership came to an end.
According to the Amazon docu-series Angry Young Man, the decision to split was made by Javed Akhtar. While it wasn’t easy, Salim Khan accepted it gracefully, without any conflict or bad blood. But the end of this partnership left a deep impact on Salim Khan. His son, Salman Khan, who was a young boy at the time, witnessed it firsthand.
In the series, Salman recalled the day when his father came home and looked visibly upset. “I remember sitting at the dining table when dad told us they were ending the partnership. When we asked why, he just said, ‘Javed sahab must have had his reasons.’”
The Rise and Fall of Salim-Javed
During their peak, Salim-Javed were flooded with film offers. Their phone would ring constantly, and they had to unplug it sometimes to get some peace. But things changed over time. Salman Khan shared how there came a point when the phone stopped ringing altogether. They even wondered if the phone was broken.
Javed Akhtar admitted that they failed to understand the value of goodwill in the industry. Despite delivering multiple blockbuster hits, they didn’t have a long queue of producers waiting to work with them. He said they had to face the consequences of not nurturing industry relationships.
Salim Khan echoed a similar sentiment. He mentioned that success can be more dangerous than failure. “When you’re successful, it can go to your head. You start making the wrong choices,” he explained in the documentary. Their enormous success may have caused them to take certain things for granted, eventually leading to their downfall and split.
Life After the Break-Up
After the break-up, Javed Akhtar went on to become one of India’s most respected lyricists, writing some of the most memorable songs in Bollywood history. Salim Khan continued writing for a while, working on films as a solo screenwriter until 1996, after which he stopped working altogether.
Even though they went their separate ways, Salim and Javed never spoke ill of each other. They always maintained respect for one another, and their families have remained on good terms over the years.
Their story is not just about partnership and success, but also about ego, choices, and the cost of fame. The legacy of Salim-Javed remains unmatched, and even decades later, their films continue to inspire writers, filmmakers, and fans of Indian cinema.
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