Shabana Azmi recently broke her silence regarding her marriage to Javed Akhtar, which faced backlash for interfering with his first marriage to Honey Irani. In an engaging conversation with Filmfare, Azmi addressed the criticism she faced for marrying Akhtar, highlighting the feminist ideals some accused her of trampling upon. For those unfamiliar, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar tied the knot on December 9, 1984, following Akhtar’s separation from Honey Irani, whom he married in 1972. Despite the divorce, Akhtar and Irani have continued to maintain a cordial relationship over the years.
Shabana Azmi acknowledged the seeming contradiction between her feminist stance and her actions during the marriage period. “I was this feminist model and I had done something that was inexplicable. Because it was like everything that I’d said, I was stamping over another woman’s rights for my own happiness,” Azmi explained. This admission comes after years of maintaining silence on the issue to preserve the dignity of all involved parties. Azmi reflected, “What I figured was that if I started explaining the circumstances in which it had been done, it would lead to much more hurt to the people involved and the families involved, and that it’s better to keep quiet.”
Highlighting the wisdom in focusing on family unity rather than public defense, Shabana noted the maturity in her decision-making process. “After all the mud that was flung at me, it died down. Today, I have such a healthy relationship with Honey that people just won’t believe it,” she shared. As the situation calmed over time, Azmi credits this friendship to the discretion exercised by herself, Javed Akhtar, and Honey Irani. “Usually, you’re in a big hurry to explain, but all three of us refrained from that, and I think that was a very wise decision,” she added.
As Shabana Azmi reflects on this deeply personal chapter, the mutual respect appearing to prevail between all parties involved remains noteworthy. The unfolding dynamics now serve as a testament to understanding and maturity, with Azmi’s recent appearances, including her role in “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” leaving audiences curious about her next steps both professionally and personally.
