Hungry for days, homeless in Mumbai: Javed Akhtar remembers having no money. What helped him stay alive?

Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who later became a cornerstone of Indian cinema, recently revisited the difficult period before success found him. Recently, he opened up about the extent of poverty he faced during his early days in Mumbai. At the time, he said he would wake up not knowing where he would find food or a place to sleep. Meals were not guaranteed, and most days, even the hope of lunch was uncertain. Shelter was equally unpredictable. He survived on only two sets of clothes—rotating between them as one was washed and the other worn.

In a conversation with Mid-Day, according to him these conditions persisted not just for a short while but stretched over a couple of years. Even so, he made it clear that the idea of ending his life never crossed his mind. Despite extreme hunger and homelessness, he said he never gave up mentally or emotionally, holding on to his sense of self-worth throughout those trying times.

Surviving on Hope and Pride

Akhtar recalled going without food for more than two days at a time, yet he never considered accepting the charity food offered outside Mahim Dargah. Even when his body was weak from starvation, his pride would not allow him to rely on public donations. Reflecting on that period, he admitted that death could have been a real possibility, but he carried a strong belief that success was only a matter of time. That confidence, he emphasized, came from the faith his friends had in his potential.

Even in moments of physical weakness and emotional isolation, his self-esteem acted as a guardrail against despair. He attributed his refusal to give up to a firm belief in his own future, a certainty that things would eventually improve.

A Controversial Stand for Rights

Much later in his career, Akhtar faced resistance of a different kind when he advocated for fair compensation for lyricists and composers. He played a crucial role in the Copyright Amendment Act of 2012, a landmark legal reform aimed at ensuring that music creators received their rightful dues. This move, however, was met with strong opposition from many in the music and film industry.

Akhtar revealed that a meeting was once held at a hotel where some industry figures informally decided to stop working with him due to his efforts. Although someone in the meeting raised concerns about the legality of such a boycott, the group still chose to avoid collaboration until the matter was resolved. As a result, he said he lost out on numerous projects and added that even today, some producers continue to exclude him from their work.

A Career Built on Talent and Resilience

Despite personal and professional challenges, Javed Akhtar built an extraordinary career. As part of the legendary writing duo Salim-Javed, he co-authored several landmark films that shaped the image of Amitabh Bachchan and redefined Hindi cinema.

Beyond screenwriting, he also made his mark as a lyricist, winning five National Film Awards for songs in films like Saaz, Border, Godmother, Refugee, and Lagaan. His more recent contributions include lyrics for the film Yudhra, where he wrote tracks such as Saathiya and Hatt Jaa Baaju.