A man will think 10 times before crossing the line: Javed Akhtar on #MeTooIndia

We met Javed Akhtar a few hours before his relative Sajid Khan was embroiled in multiple cases of sexual harassment. One of Bollywood's most famous writers was in Dubai forHazaaron Khwahishein Aisi, a nostalgic tribute to the late Ghazal King - Jagjit Singh at Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre. Shekhar Ravjiani of Vishal-Shekhar fame also performed at the  live concert which featured Deepak Pandit as well. 
Excerpts from our conversation with the legendary writer. 
The #MeToo movement is taking Bollywood by storm after it was triggered by Tanushree Dutta. Do you think that the industry failed her?
I think by far our society has failed women. To say that the industry has failed Tanushree, you are narrowing it down to an extent that it almost becomes mundane. The fact is that the women are let down by society, and not today but it has been happening since the millennium and everything should come to an end. I think the time has come for this injustice, unfairness, repression, and exploitation to end. 
But the Hindi film industry is famous for promoting the culture of silence. Do you think after this movement, even the prominent names will talk about it? 
This is not the film industry's problem but this is the problem of society. You can see that now at different places, women are voicing their grievances. The film industry has not come from Mars or Moon, they are the members of the same society. The kind of morality or decency that society reflects everywhere or lack of it... So talking about the film industry, does this mean that we only want to see the glamour side of molestation? So we shouldn't focus only on the film industry. 
But Bollywood is rampant with such stories. Do you think things will change after this?
Things will change. A man will think ten times before crossing the line and many will not dare to do what they have been doing so confidently without any fear of repercussions.
Your kids, Farhan, and Zoya , and your wife, Shabana Azmi are known for their progressive voices. Do you guys often talk about these subjects?
Thinking people talk about all the trending subjects but I am afraid that my kids only talk about food with me! Both my kids have their own houses and whenever they come to visit me, they are always hungry. The first thing that they demand is not father's love but kebabs. I don't know why.  Then, of course, we talk about films and other concerns of life as well. 
Does your daughter Zoya discuss scripts of her directorial films with you?
Zoya has been kind enough to give me her script and ask for my reactions. She also invites me to show the first cut of her films and takes my opinion. I have written songs for her and in Gully Boy, I have written poems for her. The raps are done by genuine rappers but there are poems in the film that I wrote. In Dil Dhadakne Do, dialogues were by Farhan, script and story by Zoya and Reema Kagti but the dialogue of the dog was written by me. I have no idea why she felt that her father is the right person to write the dialogues of the dog but that's what she asked me for and that's what I did. In her film, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, I had written the poems. I participate, give my opinion and reaction but it is up to her to accept or reject my suggestions. Sometimes, she makes use of my suggestions and sometimes she doesn't. Ultimately, it is her show. 
Why didn't you ever turn a director? 
I wanted to direct when I was in college and that is why I came to the film industry, but circumstances made me a writer and thankfully, people appreciated my work and I did alright for a while. Then I started writing lyrics. Sometimes, I still fantasise about my dream of becoming a director because I did learn the tricks of the trade, technicalities and the grammar of being a director. But somehow, I never directed.
Any chances that you will ever direct a film? 
You never know. Never say never. 
Do you remember the first time that you met Jagjit Singh?
As a matter of fact, my first meeting with him was long back. I remember clearly that I was a big fan of Baat Niklegi Toh Door Tak Jayegi because that album was so noticeable, impressive and different from other music that was coming out. Mehdi Hassan was at the peak of his popularity but his music was classical and complicated. And suddenly comes this man with such a pleasant voice, simple tunes and we had no idea who this person was. 
I remember I was at Amitabh Bachchan's house and he said that he wanted to create an LP for me. He plays Jagjit's song and that was my introduction to his voice. Many years later, I was doing a small film with Farooque Sheikh and Deepti Naval and they asked me to write a song and Jagjit Singh was the singer. 
How would you describe his magical voice?
He gave solitude and peace to people with his voice. His voice was like a balm on everyone's soul, in their mind. Not many singers in this world can boast of the constant success, such as his, for 35 years.  
arti@khaleejtimes.com