Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Shabana Azmi Details Marriage, Friendship With Javed Akhtar
Shabana Azmi talked about her long marriage to Javed Akhtar.
She said they sometimes have very big arguments.
Their marriage is not perfect all the time.
However, they are also very strong friends.
They agree on many important ideas and values.
Azmi said she first liked Javed because he was very smart and funny.
She also said he reminded her of her father.
Javed was married to Honey Irani before marrying Shabana.
Shabana said she and Honey eventually built a close and respectful family relationship.
Shabana Azmi said her marriage to Javed Akhtar includes huge fights and is not always “hunky dory.”
Azmi said their strong friendship, shared worldview and similar ideologies help sustain their relationship.
She said Akhtar’s wit, intelligence, communication skills and fairness attracted and impressed her.
Azmi compared Akhtar with her father, citing their progressive, communist-party backgrounds and love of Urdu poetry.
She described her bond with Akhtar’s former wife, Honey Irani, as healthy despite the relationship’s difficult beginnings.
- Who
- Actor Shabana Azmi, writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar and Akhtar’s former wife, screenwriter Honey Irani.
- What
- Azmi discussed the disagreements, friendship and shared beliefs in her marriage to Akhtar, along with her bond with Irani.
- When
- The comments were reported on August 29, 2026; Azmi and Akhtar married in 1984.
- Where
- Azmi gave the quoted comments during an interview with Zoom.
- Why
- She was explaining what attracted her to Akhtar, what sustains their marriage and how her relationship with Irani developed.
- Couple
- Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar
- Marriage year
- 1984
- Marriage duration
- The couple has been married for more than 40 years, according to one report.
- Relationship challenges
- Azmi said she and Akhtar have huge fights and that their marriage is not always “hunky dory.”
- Relationship strengths
- She emphasized their strong friendship, shared worldview and similar ideologies.
- What attracted Azmi
- She cited Akhtar’s wit and intelligence and also praised his communication skills and fairness.
- Akhtar’s previous family
- Akhtar was previously married to Honey Irani, with whom he has two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar.
- Azmi and Irani’s relationship
- Azmi said their relationship is healthy and that Irani is like a family member and sibling to Akhtar.
