Shabana Azmi Reflects on Marrying Javed Akhtar: “I Stamped Over Honey Irani’s Rights”

In a rare moment of candid reflection, legendary Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi opened up about the complexities of her marriage to lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, admitting to the personal and societal repercussions it entailed. Her revelations, shared during a recent conversation, offer a glimpse into the emotional turmoil and challenges following her decision to marrying Akhtar, who was previously married to Honey Irani.  

Shabana Azmi said, “When Javed and I got together, he was still married to Honey. It’s true that I stamped over her rights to marry him.” She elaborated on the emotional fallout, explaining that it wasn’t just a union between two people but a situation steeped in pain, controversy, and moral conflict.  

The actress recalled the backlash she faced at the time, with society labeling her as the "other woman." “All the mud that was flung at me… it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t just my relationship with Javed; it affected so many lives, especially Honey’s and their children,” she admitted.  

She further added, “People questioned my ethics, my integrity. I was painted in a bad light. But I believed in our relationship, and Javed and I worked hard to ensure that we didn’t let the bitterness overshadow everything else.”  

Despite the challenging circumstances, Shabana Azmi spoke about her attempts to make amends and build a respectful relationship with Honey Irani and her children, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar. “I never wanted to replace their mother or step into her role. It was important for me to acknowledge her space and rights,” she emphasized.  

She also said, “I have immense respect for Honey. She was wronged, and I’ve never denied that. But life is messy, and love doesn’t follow rules.”

Javed Akhtar was married to screenwriter Honey Irani before he married Shabana in 1984 after his divorce from his first wife. Shabana Azmi was last seen in Netflix's Dabba Cartel