Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar: The golden couple

She is an actor par excellence plus a dedicated political activist. He was a popular figure in the 1970s giving a stature to Indian screenwriting, Later he turned into an impeccable poet and lyricist. Meet talented husband wife duo Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar who despite the distances that often separate them, seem to have a highly successful marriage.
Recently, the talented husband-wife duo of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar appeared on the popular talk show Kofee with Karan. Much of the conversation revolved around how they had made a success of their marriage. According to Javed, poet, lyricist and scriptwriter, “The fact is that two people can live happily only if they respect each other… they care for each other… they respect each other's space and individuality and help each other flourish.”
Shabana had a ready response too. To quote her, “ Marriage is an every day adjustment but I don't think society prepares you for that… You know they have this rosy picture and you never need to work towards it.. but I think you need to work towards it.”
And this is more than lip service. Despite the distance that often separates them, they manage to be friends more than a conventional couple. Says Shabana jokingly, “ We meet at airports once in a while.” She also gives a humorous aside. She says her mother told her to beware of poets.
Among Shabana's successful films are Ankur, Nishant, Sparsh, Masoom, Mandi, Fire, Earth, 15, Park Avenue and Umrao Jaan.
She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress five times overwith Ankur, Arth, Khandar, Paar and Godmother.
Shabana is also a dedicated social activist, having been active in fighting AIDS and injustice. Though her activism initially drew scepticism, she has proved her critics wrong. She has also participated in several plays and demonstrations denouncing communalism. In 1989, along with Swami Agnivesh and Asghar Ali Engineer, she undertook a four day march for communal harmony form New Delhi to Meerut. She has been at the forefront for slum dwellers, displaced Kashmiri Pandit migrants, victims of the earthquake at Latur (Maharashtra, India), among others.
Javed Akhtar was at the peak of success in the late 1970s and 1980s with Salim Khan, as half of the script writing duo called Salim-Javed. Akhtar continues to occupy pride of place in Bollywood and is a sought after lyricist. He has written scripts for films such as Hathi Mere Saathi, Yaadon Ki Baraat and later Mr India and Don. As a lyricist he has proved his mettle with Saagar, 1942: A Love Story and Dil Chahta Hai, among others. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999 and received the Padma Bhushan in 2007. Javed has won the prestigious Filmfare Award 14 times.
Shabana and Javed complement each other to a 'T” and have a highly successful marriagein the otherwise topsy turvy film world.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent