SALIM-JAVED (SALIM KHAN, JAVED AKHTAR)

The most successful scenarists of 70s Indian cinema. Javed Akhtar, son of songwriter Jan Nissar Akhtar and born in 1945 in Gwalior, started his career in the late 60s writing the dialogues of e.g. S.M. Sagar's Sarhadi lutera (1966). Salim Khan established himself as a scenarist with 70s megastar Rajesh Khanna's hit Hathi Mere Saathi ( 1971). The two teamed up to write e.g. dialogues for Ramesh Sippy's Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and the script for Nasir Hussain's hit teen-picture, Yaadon Ki Baraat 0973). They broke through as a team in 1973 mainly with the rise of Amitabh Bachchan, writing his first vigilante movie, Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer 0973). Established themselves in the wake of Bachchan's success, with Deewar andSholay (both 1975), followed by Don and Trishul (both 1978). later claiming the authorship of the star's screen persona. Became independent attractions with equal billing as the stars while inaugurating a new era in professional screenplay writing. They separated shortly after Aakhro Dao(1975), after which Akhtar wrote several hit films such as Mr India (1989) and the massively successful song Ek do teen of N. Chandra'sTezaab (1988). Salim Khan returned to top-billing status with Shashilal Nair's Falak(l988) although he remained less successful than his former partner. Together with his wife Shabana Azml, Akhtar participates in civil rights and communal harmony campaigns. Khan's son Salman Khan became a star with Maine Pyar Kiya (1989).

Writer