Acclaimed writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar says he is
proud of the fact that his children — Zoya and Farhan — are doing something
completely different from what his portfolio in the Indian film industry.

Farhan has proved his versatility as a writer, director,
producer, actor and singer, while Zoya is a successful director whose cinema
reflects a new age vibe.

In an interview ahead of his participation at literary
festival Sahitya Aaj Tak, Javed said: “I am proud that my children are not
the echoes of their parents. When your children become filmmakers and when
their father is a writer, they tend to make the same genre films. And here,
both Farhan and Zoya have been totally different from the work that I have
done. There was no shadow at all and that’s wonderful.”

Both of them are Javed’s children from his first marriage to screenwriter Honey
Irani.

Javed feels daughter Zoya, known for movies like “Luck By Chance”,
“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” and “Dil Dhadakne Do”, is a very
serious writer.

“Her writing has always been impressive. I am not saying this because she
is my daughter. There is a subject, there is a character, and that really
appeals to me in her writing,” said the 71-year-old, who will be in the
capital to attend the first edition of the literary gala November 12-13.

Javed believes that while there’s no dearth of talent in our country, “one
thing that’s lacking is the preparation”.

“We used to do preparation before staring our work. People have become so
fast and are in such a hurry these days. So I don’t see the kind of preparation
that is required.

“You have to learn the basics. If you have read a lot of literature and if
you are familiar with poetry, then you can write well because then you will
have the vocabulary and metaphor. I do feel the preparation is missing,”
added the celebrated writer, known for penning films like Seeta Aur Geeta, Haathi Mere Saathi, Zanjeer, Sholay, Trishul and Dostana among others.

He is looking forward to his experience at Sahitya Aaj Tak, which promises to
be a confluence of Indian literati, and says it’s always an enriching
experience to attend such festivals.

“As a matter of fact, these festivals are aiming to be proactive because
you get to reciprocate and many different people are participating in it. Every
question asked here makes you understand many things, and going through this is
a process of learning,” Akhtar said.

“Even the one, who answers, learns something. So, it’s always an enriching
experience to be part of such festivals,” he added.

The festival — to be held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in
Delhi — will not just feature cultural shows and theatre, but also promises to
give budding writers a vibrant audience to narrate their scripts.

Javed also likes such events for the debates.

“When we attend such festivals, we have various debates about social
issues and other stuff which also allows you to exchange your thoughts. When
you have such festivals, you are celebrating the mind. There’s always something
to take back with you.”