“Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit didn’t get big roles”: Javed Akhtar speaks on society’s lack of understanding of contemporary women

August 31, 2024 - 2:38 PM IST

Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently shared his insights on the portrayal of female characters in cinema and the evolving understanding of women in contemporary society. In an interview with The Indian Express, Akhtar reflected on the challenges faced by writers in creating authentic and impactful female roles.

“Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit didn’t get big roles”: Javed Akhtar speaks on society’s lack of understanding of contemporary women

Akhtar shared thoughts on the importance of a clear understanding of contemporary morality and aspirations for great writing to emerge. He highlighted the iconic roles of Meena Kumari, Nargis, and Waheeda Rehman as examples of how powerful female characters can be created when society has a well-defined understanding of women.

In his words: “When society is clear about contemporary morality and aspirations, great writing can emerge. The writer is a part of society, breathing the same air. This is how great roles come about. Meena Kumari in Saheb, Biwi Aur Ghulam, Nargis in Mother India, and Waheeda Rehman in Guide exemplify this. However, when morality is unclear, issues arise.”

Explaining his take further, Javed added, “Look at these two girls - Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. They were not less talented than any so-called heroine of the past. But did they get one big role? Not because anybody was their enemy. But at that point, society was not clear about the contemporary woman. 'Main chup rahungi' is out, but who is in? Nobody knows.”

The veteran writer continued, “Till today, we are roaming in the dark trying to find the modern woman. Zoya had told me, 'You will not praise me on the stage. I find it embarrassing when you say good things about me.' But Zoya, the fact is the only contemporary woman I have seen is in your films.”

Besides his interview, Javed Akhtar recently appeared in a documentary series titled Angry Young Men, which explores his cinematic journey with his writing partner, Salim Khan. The series highlights the duo's successful collaboration, resulting in 22 blockbusters out of 24 films. The documentary also delves into the reasons behind their eventual split. It features interviews with Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, and other prominent figures. The series was released on August 20 and is available for streaming on Prime Video.

Also Read: Javed Akhtar hails Alia Bhatt performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi as standout; says, “Alia is one of the few finest actors”