World · India Bureau
Javed Akhtar Recalls Son Farhan's Early Question on Religious Identity
Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar has shared a childhood anecdote about his son Farhan, recounting how the young boy once posed a fundamental question about his religious identity. The incident highlights the filmmaker's approach to raising children with emphasis on personal values and individual responsibility.
LSN India ·
Acclaimed screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently opened up about a formative moment from his son Farhan Akhtar's childhood, when the then eight-year-old asked his father, "Are we Muslims?" The simple yet profound question reflects the kind of curious introspection that marked the younger Akhtar's early years.
In discussing the incident, Javed Akhtar underscored the importance of fostering independent thinking and personal inquiry in children. The filmmaker's recollection suggests his parenting philosophy centered on allowing his children to explore and question their own identity and beliefs, rather than prescribing rigid ideological frameworks.
Javed Akhtar also acknowledged the significant role played by Honey Irani, his first wife and Farhan's mother, in shaping the values that guided their household. According to the veteran screenwriter, Irani was instrumental in instilling principles of freedom, personal responsibility, and core ethical values in their children. This collaborative approach to parenting emphasized the development of individual conscience and moral reasoning.
The anecdote provides insight into the family environment in which filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar grew up, one that apparently prioritized critical thinking and personal autonomy. Such foundational values would later influence Farhan's own creative pursuits and public persona as a filmmaker, actor, and social activist.