Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Shabana Azmi Recalls Javed Akhtar’s Advice on Success
Shabana Azmi once talked about advice her husband, Javed Akhtar, gave her.
He told her she did not need to apologize for being successful.
Azmi said many women feel they must keep proving that doing well at work does not mean they care less about their families.
She had not noticed that she was putting this pressure on herself.
Akhtar’s words helped her think about how she wanted to balance work and family.
She shared the story in an interview with Simi Garewal in 2000.
Shabana Azmi recalled advice from her husband, writer Javed Akhtar, to stop apologizing for her success.
She shared the story in a 2000 interview with Simi Garewal on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal.
Azmi said women may feel pressure to repeatedly prove that career achievements do not lessen family devotion.
She said she had not realized she was putting that pressure on herself until Akhtar pointed it out.
Azmi and Akhtar married in 1984 and marked their 41st wedding anniversary in December 2025.
- Who
- Actress Shabana Azmi and her husband, writer Javed Akhtar.
- What
- Azmi recalled Akhtar advising her to stop apologizing for her professional success.
- When
- She recounted the incident in a 2000 interview; the article also notes their anniversary in December 2025.
- Where
- On Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, in an interview with Simi Garewal.
- Why
- Akhtar observed that Azmi felt pressure to prove her achievements did not mean less devotion to her family.
Professional success
Family expectations
Balancing achievement and family devotion
Professional success
Azmi’s professional achievements did not mean she was less devoted to her family.
Family expectations
Azmi said women can feel they must repeatedly reassure family members that work success does not diminish their care for them.
- Interview
- Rendezvous with Simi Garewal
- Interview year
- 2000
- Advice recalled
- Stop apologizing for being successful
- Marriage
- Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar married in 1984
- Anniversary noted
- Their 41st wedding anniversary was in December 2025
- Family pressure described
- Women may feel they must repeatedly show that career success does not reduce their commitment to family