Javed Akhtar: Javed Akhtar reveals Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit didn’t get big roles because society wasn’t clear about the contemporary woman

The renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently shared some new untold stories from the showbiz world while attending an interview with his daughter, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar. They delved into their passions for art, literature, and cinema.
In a discussion on what it takes to be a star today, the legendary writer Javed Akhtar emphasized society’s role in shaping stardom. He explained that a star’s image is a blend of contemporary morality and aspiration, and when society understands these elements clearly, great writing can emerge.Akhtar highlighted the decline of the ‘Angry Young Men’ archetype, popularized by Amitabh Bachchan, noting that while Bachchan’s anger stemmed from deep hurt, later portrayals focused solely on the anger, losing the character’s depth. This shift led to the character’s eventual fade from prominence. Akhtar also mentioned that societal reflections in cinema aren’t limited to male superstars alone.

In the same chat with the Indian Express, Javed discussed how talented actresses like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit were undervalued by a society that lacked self-reflection. He compared them to past legends like Meena Kumari, Nargis, and Waheeda Rahman, who each had iconic roles in films like ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’, ‘Mother India’, and ‘Guide’. Akhtar argued that while Sridevi and Madhuri were equally talented, they didn’t receive similarly defining roles because society at that time was uncertain about the identity of the contemporary woman. The traditional silent woman was no longer relevant, but there was no clear idea of who would replace her. ‘Society wasn’t clear about who the contemporary woman was. The silent ‘Main Chup Rahungi’ woman was out, but who came in? That, nobody knows,’ Javed emphasized.He further pointed out that society is still struggling to find a true representation of the modern woman in cinema. He praised his daughter Zoya Akhtar’s films for capturing this contemporary woman, despite her request not to be praised. Akhtar questioned where the line of selfishness should be drawn in character arcs and how the contemporary hero relates to his peers and family, noting that these aspects remain unclear in today’s society. He argued that because writers are part of this unclear society, it leads to a lack of great characters, which in turn results in the absence of great stars.
The screenwriting duo Salim-Javed’s docuseries ‘Angry Young Men’ premiered on Prime Video on August 20.