Javed Akhtar Expresses Pride as Shabana Azmi Continues Decades-Long Legacy of Activism

Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has shared his admiration for his wife, acclaimed actor Shabana Azmi, following her recent involvement in the protests at Jantar Mantar. Azmi joined students demonstrating against the alleged leak of the NEET paper leak, further cementing her reputation as an artist who refuses to remain silent in the face of perceived injustice.

A Conscience-Driven Decision

Speaking on the podcast Lets Talk With DevnaG, Akhtar revealed that he supported his wife’s decision to travel to Delhi for the protests without hesitation. When Azmi informed him of her plans while he was in London, he knew she could not be dissuaded.

“When she told me, I knew she would. It’s the call of the conscience,” Akhtar shared. “The moment she told me I cannot not go, I knew the old Shabana had woken up… I’m proud of her.”

The demonstration, however, came at a personal cost. During the protests on July 20, the Delhi Police utilized tear gas, which triggered an asthma attack in the veteran actor. She was subsequently diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, an illness that eventually prevented her from joining further student-led protests in Mumbai.

A History of Defiance

Azmi’s commitment to social causes is far from new. Akhtar noted that her activism was a central part of their lives even when their relationship began in the late 1970s. Her history includes high-profile acts of civil disobedience, most notably in 1993, when she was arrested alongside slum residents in Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade while protesting the demolition of their homes.

In a testament to her dedication, Azmi reportedly refused bail at the time. Her commitment to her professional craft was so steadfast that her mother, Shaukat Kaifi, famously persuaded police to escort the actor from detention to the Tata Theatre so she could perform in the play Tumhari Amrita—she performed in the very clothes she had been arrested in.

The Cost of Courage

Addressing the fear that often accompanies such public activism, Akhtar reflected on the necessity of standing up for one’s principles. “It’s not like we don’t feel scared. We feel scared most of the times,” he admitted. “But in some moments, you have to get over the fear and call a spade a spade. Otherwise, you won’t be able to look in the mirror.”

The decision to join the protesters in person was not the couple’s first attempt at intervention. Azmi had previously revealed that she and Akhtar had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting a meeting with the students affected by the NEET controversy. After receiving an acknowledgment but no further response for three days, Azmi felt compelled to take her advocacy to the streets.

For Akhtar, his wife’s recent actions were simply a return to the core values she has held for decades. “She’s aged now, so she does it less,” he joked, but ultimately, he remains steadfast in his pride for a partner who continues to prioritize her “zameer” (conscience) above all else.