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Javed Akhtar's Struggle: 27 Paise in Pocket, 3 Days Hungry, Shabana Azmi Recounts.
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News18•04-10-2026, 15:43
Javed Akhtar's Struggle: 27 Paise in Pocket, 3 Days Hungry, Shabana Azmi Recounts.
- •Shabana Azmi shared Javed Akhtar's struggle story on his 81st birthday.
- •Javed Akhtar arrived in Mumbai on October 4, 1964, with only 27 paise in his pocket.
- •He spent nights sleeping on footpaths, railway stations, and film studio compounds.
- •There was a time when he went hungry for three consecutive days.
- •Javed Akhtar encouraged himself, saying, "I was not born to die like this, these days will change."
Key Questions Answered
When Javed Akhtar first arrived at Mumbai Central Station on October 4, 1964, he had only 27 paise in his pocket, spent nights sleeping on footpaths and railway stations, and once went hungry for three consecutive days.
Before marrying Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar was married to renowned scriptwriter Honey Irani, whom he married in 1972 before their divorce was finalized in 1985.
Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani share two children from their marriage, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar.
