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Javed Akhtar felt it was ‘impossible’ for Shatrughan Sinha to pay Rs 60 as rent, refused to live with him: ‘You will get me evicted as well’

Javed Akhtar narrated an incident when Shatrughan Sinha came to him with a request to share a room.

Javed Akhtar refused to live with Shatrughan Sinha during their struggle days. (Photo: Express Archives)

Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who arrived in Mumbai in the 1960s, faced his share of hardships before establishing himself in the Hindi film industry. From odd jobs to working as an assistant director, he eventually secured a writing position at Sippy Films in 1970 with a modest salary of Rs 175. But before this, he shared his struggles with contemporaries like actor Shatrughan Sinha and director Subhash Ghai, who were also struggling with him. In an interview with Mid-day, Javed recounted a humorous episode from those early days, when he lived in a small room and was approached by Shatrughan Sinha for accommodation.

He recalled, “Mere paas ek room aagaya tha… when I was doing well. Toh uska Rs 120 mahina kiraya tha… Rs 60 I used to give… and Rs 60, somebody else. Toh mere paas Shatru aaya, kehne laga ki tum mujhe rakh lo apne kamre mein. I said, ‘Pagaal ho tum? Tum mujhe bhi nikalwa doge. Rs 60 mahina tum kahaan se laaoge? Har mahine tum Rs 60 de sakoge? Impossible.’” (I had managed to get a room… when things were starting to look up. The rent was Rs 120 per month. Rs 60 I paid, and the other half was paid by someone else. Then, Shatrughan came to me saying, ‘Let me stay with you.’ I said, ‘Are you crazy? You’ll get me evicted too. Where will you get Rs 60 from each month? Will you really be able to pay it? Impossible.’)

Also Read | Mr India was originally conceived for Amitabh Bachchan before Salim-Javed’s split, Javed Akhtar reveals: ‘I developed it completely on my own’

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Though Javed turned down the request, he noted how Sinha already displayed the confidence, style, and flair that would later define his screen persona. Still, the decision was firm. “Maine use nahi rakha… I told him main tumko nahi rakh sakta.” (I didn’t let him stay… I told him I can’t keep you as a roommate.) Despite the early struggles, both men went on to become stalwarts in their respective fields.

Shatrughan has previously claimed that films like Sholay and Deewaar, written by Salim-Javed, were first offered to him. In a 2000 chat with Rediff, Shatrughan claimed, “Sholay, the role Amitabh played was first offered to me, but I didn’t do it. During those days, I was coming as the lead star, and I didn’t want to take a second lead character. The role passed on to Amitabh, and you know the rest. Or take Deewar — Salim-Javed wrote the role for me, initially, and it was lying with my producer for a long time. But then there was some difference of opinion between Salim Khan and the producer, and the film passed on to Yash Chopra. And Amitabh got the role.”

With Amitabh and Shatrughan being professional rivals, and Salim-Javed writing most of Amitabh’s hits of the time, it was perceived that the writer duo supported Big B, and not Shatrughan. Salim-Javed and Shatrughan collaborated on films like Kaala Patthar, Shaan and Dostana, but they all starred multiple heroes.

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