'Didn't come under a truck, didn't get cancer': Javed Akhtar looks back on his journey in Mumbai

Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar, one of the most renowned lyricists and scriptwriters, came to Mumbai in 1964. He had a humble start in the city of dreams, working for different filmmakers during the early stages of his career. Doing the rounds of studios with only the shirt on his back, being paid less than a peon, and not knowing where his next meal would come from - that was Javed Akhtar's life between 1965 and 1970. What kept him going? The belief that success would eventually be his.

'Got paid less than a peon in first film'

Recalling his early career in Mumbai during a conversation with Mid-day's Sit With Hitlist, Javed Akhtar said, "My first boss was Mr. Kamal Amrohi. He paid me Rs 50 for the role of assistant. The peon in that office used to get Rs 80. And I was the only one who could write in English. But then the picture came to a halt, and I didn't even have the Rs 50-a-month job anymore."

Javed Akhtar recalls living with boss

He continued, "Later, I got another job with Mr. Asim Sagar, who was making a film called Saradhi Lutera, with Sheikh Muftar as the hero. There was also a young boy and a girl playing the romantic leads. I was paid Rs 100 a month and was living at Mrs. Sagar's house. There, I grew close to a little girl in the house who was three years old. Now she's a grandmother, but she still keeps in touch with me and meets me sometimes. She used to listen to everything I said. If I told her to sleep, she'd sleep; if I told her to eat, she'd eat. I had developed an emotional bond with her."

Javed Akhtar on life from 1965-1970

He further added, "Then I got a job with Mr. Brij Sadanah, who had made Victoria No. 203. I was an assistant, earning Rs 175 a month - the highest I'd earned as an assistant until I landed a job at Sippy Films in 1970, where I was paid Rs 750."

Reflecting on those years, he said, "From 1965 to 1970, I didn't come under a truck or bus. I didn't lose my eyesight. I didn't get cancer. I didn't lose an arm or a leg. Short of that, whatever problem a human being can face, I went through in those five years. But when I got the job with Sippy Films for Rs 750, I felt I had finally made a place for myself. And from there, I thought - let's see what happens."