It has been more than a decade since renowned screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has not written any film. His last movie as a screenwriter was Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006), starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in lead roles. The film was directed by his son Farhan Akhtar.
Recently, Javed Akhtar was present at the launch of the show Living Legends With Komal Nahta, where he spoke about legendary poet Sahir Ludhianvi in detail. Akhtar said that he is the only person who can accurately represent the great poet in a biopic, due to his personal connection with him.
“He was a friend of my father and my mamu’s (maternal uncle) friend. He used to meet with a lot of love and affection. I shared a great bond with him. If anyone can make a film on him or his life, it is only me because no one knew him that well as I know him. Those who did know him are not alive,” said Javed Akhtar.
For the uninitiated, renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been working on a biopic on the life of Sahir Ludhianvi for a long time now. Despite his several attempts, the project is yet to take off.
From Shah Rukh Khan to Irrfan Khan, several actors’ names have cropped up for the role of Ludhianvi in his biopic, but there has never been any official announcement. Latest casting rumours suggest that Abhishek Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu have been approached for the movie. While Junior Bachchan has been approached to play Sahir Ludhianvi, Pannu is expected to essay the role of his love interest and great poetess Amrita Pritam.
An official announcement is awaited though.
Priyanka Chopra waves to paparazzi while arriving in a floor-length white gownInstagram/
Manoj Bajpayee returns as Srikant Tiwari in the first look of The Family Man season 3Instagram/primevideoin
Big B defends his choice to praise Abhishek openly and others privately
Amitabh Bachchan reveals why he praises Abhishek publicly but not Jaya or Aishwarya
Quick highlights:
Amitabh Bachchan has responded to online comments asking why he often praises son Abhishek Bachchan on social media but not wife Jaya Bachchan, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, or daughter Shweta. The actor explained that while he chooses to support Abhishek publicly, he honours the women in his family privately, saying he prefers to respect them “in his heart.”
Bachchan defends Abhishek praise, addresses fan remarks online
The 81-year-old actor, who regularly shares photos and thoughts with fans, recently posted images of himself meeting admirers outside his Mumbai home, Jalsa. Captioned “Yes, I praise Abhishek. So?”, the post sparked comments from users questioning why he doesn’t do the same for Jaya, Aishwarya, or Shweta.
Responding directly, Bachchan wrote, “Yes, I shall praise them in my heart… not publicly… respect for the ladies.” His reply quickly circulated across platforms, with many praising his thoughtful answer. Others pointed to his tendency to engage more often when defending Abhishek, especially around film releases.
Bachchan also shut down a user accusing him of having “paid fans,” bluntly replying, “Prove it! You are small-minded… why don’t you pay and get fans too?” When another person mocked those waiting outside his home as “unemployed,” he replied with characteristic wit: “So give them a job? When they stand at the gate of Jalsa, they are EMPLOYED in love.”
Actor remains active on social media while juggling film projects
Bachchan has become increasingly interactive online in recent years, often directly responding to criticism and fan feedback. Meanwhile, Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5, a multi-starrer comedy that released earlier this month. Jaya Bachchan appeared in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, while Aishwarya Rai was part of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan films. Despite the online chatter, Amitabh continues to walk his own path, on-screen and online.