Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan shared their experiences of working with three of India’s biggest superstars: Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bachchan. Javed explained why Salim-Javed chose Amitabh Bachchan over Rajesh Khanna. They worked very little with Khanna because it became difficult due to the entourage around him, who were often flatterers seeking their own interests.
Salim-Javed wrote the scripts for Rajesh Khanna’s films Hathi Mere Saathi and Andaz, but they did not collaborate further with him. Javed Akhtar mentioned in an interview with the SAM YouTube channel, “There was a time when a baby born in India would first say ‘Rajesh Khanna’ before ‘mamma’ or ‘papa’. But that period didn’t last long. Eventually, we realized it was no longer feasible to work with him because of the many flattering people around him, which made the process difficult. Since we were friends, we did a film together after a long time. However, the kind of films we were writing and the stories we wanted to tell were better suited for an actor like Amitabh Bachchan.”
Salim-Javed’s films significantly contributed to Amitabh Bachchan’s early career. Rajesh Khanna, who was once the country’s biggest superstar, was eventually replaced by Bachchan. Javed noted, “At that time, Amitabh Bachchan was not yet a superstar, but he was a talented actor. We believed he could portray the character named Vijay well.”
Salim-Javed also wrote for films like Kranti and Shakti, which featured Dilip Kumar. When asked about working with Kumar, Javed said, “Working with actors like Amitabh Bachchan or Dilip Kumar means you can rely on them. The scene you write is sure to be impressive. But when you think an actor has limited talent, you write simpler scenes for him. Give Amitabh Bachchan any scene, and he will perform it exceptionally. Whatever dialogue you provide, he will deliver it authentically.”
Salim-Javed, the legendary writing duo, parted ways 40 years ago. Their children—Salman Khan, Zoya Akhtar, and Farhan Akhtar—came together to create a documentary titled Angry Young Men, which was recently released on Prime Video.
