When Javed Akhtar's 1st Wife Said His Relationship Shabana Azmi Led To Fights at Home: 'Ugly Scenes'

Shabana Azmi had recently opened up about Javed Akhtar’s first wife, Honey Irani’s reaction to their relationship. In an interview with Arbaaz Khan, Shabana said Honey felt ‘rejected’ and ‘bitter’ when the writer-lyricist fell in love with the actress. However, over the years, the family’s relationship has become better. Shabana, Javed and Honey also come together on special occasions. However, did you know that there were fights at the Akhtar-Irani home when Shabana walked into Javed’s life?

In an interview with Filmfare in 2012, Honey Irani admitted that when rumours of Javed’s growing closeness with Shabana made the headlines, it paved the way for feuds at home. She confessed that things turned bad between them, and as a result, they decided to part ways. At the time, Javed and Honey had already welcomed their children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar.

“We separated in 1978 as things had turned bad. There were fights and ugly scenes. But we ensured the children (Farhan and Zoya) weren’t around. While their divorce came through in’84-’85, Javed and Shabana got married in 1984. Shabana has enjoyed a warm equation with Farhan and Zoya over the years. But she’s candid about her rapport with Shabana. “I have no rapport as such with her. I go to Javed’s house on his birthday. Shabana and I greet each other. It’s cordial. There’s a lot of respect. That’s it,” Honey said, adding that at the time, she and Shabana were not ‘sahelis’.

Speaking with Arbaaz on the second season of his talk show, The Invincibles, Shabana credited Honey for the actress’s close bond with the Akhtar kids. The Arth actress added that Honey never restricted her children from bonding with Shabana. “I feel very happy because I have a very beautiful relationship with them and I give credit to Honey. They were young kids at that time and it was the easiest thing for Honey to take them away. She never did that and encouraged them to come with us. Aur maine kya kiya ki maine shuru mein unko overwhelm karne ki koshish nahi ki,” she added.

Speaking about tackling the chatter around their relationships, Shabana added, “Humne ye tay kiya ki isme kadwahat nahi honi chahiye (I give credit to all three of us – Javed, Honey and Shabana). Of course initially Honey felt rejected and bitter but Javed kept at it. And today what has come from it is something I am really proud of. Magar log jo hai na jab iss tarah ka separation hota hai toh duniyabhar ki baatein karte hai aur aap yeh chahte hai ki apne aap ko save karein. (When such a separation happens, the society talks a lot about it and you try to protect yourself from such noises).”