The legendary screenwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar 's new docuseries , ' Angry Young Men ', explores their illustrious careers, family dynamics, and personal lives. In the third episode of the docuseries, Javed Akhtar reflected on the failure of his first marriage, acknowledging that he feels a deep sense of guilt towards Honey Irani . He admitted that the majority of the responsibility for the marriage 's failure falls on his shoulders, estimating it to be around 60 to 70 percent.
Akhtar expressed that if he had possessed the understanding he has today, perhaps things might have turned out differently. Although it’s difficult for him to accept this reality, he now sees the situation in that light. Shabana Azmi , Javed Akhtar's second wife, reflected on the difficulties of being in a complex relationship, especially when children are involved.
She acknowledged that such situations are deeply personal and painful, often exacerbated by the quick judgments of others who label someone as a home-breaker or home-destroyer. Although she initially felt the urge to explain her perspective, she eventually realized that doing so would cause too much hurt to those involved. Shabana Azmi credited Javed Akhtar's first wife, Honey Irani, for not turning their children against her.
She acknowledged that Honey played a crucial role in giving the children a sense of security, ensuring they didn’t see Shabana as an evil stepmother. This approach has led to Shabana and Honey now sharing a warm and positive relationship. For the uninitiated, Javed and Honey married in 1972 and have two children, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar.
Although they divorced in 1984, they continued to co-parent their children. Soon after the divorce , Javed married Shabana Azmi..
