Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Javed Akhtar Recalls Farhan’s Childhood Question About Religious Identity
Javed Akhtar talked about how his children, Farhan and Zoya, grew up.
He said their mother, Honey Irani, did most of the work of raising them during their formative years.
Javed said he did not teach them to follow a particular religion.
When Farhan was about seven or eight, he asked whether they were Muslims.
Javed told him that the community or place where someone is born is less important than the person they become.
He described the children as growing up without a religious identity being given to them.
Javed is proud that Farhan and Zoya became successful through their own work.
He also said he encouraged them to read, and they now read more than he does.
Javed Akhtar said Farhan was about seven or eight when he asked, “Are we Muslims?”
Akhtar said he did not impose a religion on Farhan and Zoya, describing them as “areligious.”
He credited former wife Honey Irani with playing the major role in raising and shaping their children.
Akhtar said Farhan and Zoya achieved professional success independently through dignified and decent work.
He said he helped encourage their reading habit, although both children now read more than he does.
- Who
- Javed Akhtar, his children Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, and their former wife and mother Honey Irani.
- What
- Javed Akhtar discussed his children’s upbringing, religious identity, reading habits, and professional achievements.
- When
- The remarks were made in a recent interview; Akhtar recalled Farhan asking the question when he was about seven or eight.
- Why
- He was discussing how Farhan and Zoya were raised, their values, and their achievements.
- Speaker
- Javed Akhtar
- Children
- Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar
- Former wife
- Honey Irani
- Religious upbringing
- Akhtar said he did not introduce a religion to his children and described them as “areligious.”
- Farhan’s age in anecdote
- About seven or eight years old
- Upbringing
- Akhtar credited Honey Irani with the major role in raising and shaping the children.
- Reading
- Akhtar said he helped instill a reading habit, but Farhan and Zoya now read more than he does.
