Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar is widely known for his candid opinions and distinct perspective on life and society. He frequently shares his views on various matters, including faith and upbringing. In a recent interaction, he opened up about a childhood incident involving his son Farhan Akhtar, who once questioned him about their religious identity when he was just about eight years old.
Growing Up Without Religious Rigidities
During a conversation with The Indian Express, Javed Akhtar discussed the environment at his home and his approach to parenting. The lyricist stated that he never actively taught his children about religion. While children usually acquire some form of religious identity by the age of eleven or twelve, he chose not to instill those specific boundaries in his household.
The Question From School
Javed Akhtar recalled a specific day when his son returned home from school with his backpack still slung over his shoulder. At around eight years of age, Farhan walked in and directly asked his father whether they were Muslims. The sudden query led to a thoughtful response from the veteran writer.
The Answer That Shaped Their Upbringing
Sharing the reply he gave his son, Javed Akhtar explained that a person is born in a certain city, which could be Pune, Mumbai, Agra, Ahmedabad, London, New York, or anywhere else. In the same way, one is born into a specific community, but none of those geographical or communal factors truly matter. What actually matters is who you are as a person. His children grew up away from the constraints of any particular dogmatic framework.
Pride in His Children's Achievements
Javed Akhtar was previously married to Honey Irani, and they share two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both of whom have carved successful paths in the film industry. Speaking about their accomplishments, he expressed immense pride not merely because they are successful, but because of the way they conduct their lives. He emphasized that they built everything entirely on their own merit with no contribution from him.
He noted that neither of his children was ever desperate for fame, money, or validation. Instead, they have built careers and public personas that remain dignified and untainted by vulgarity. Watching them live with such grace and self-respect brings him immense joy and satisfaction.
