In the glitzy world of Bollywood, it’s easy to forget that some of its brightest stars once battled brutal hardships just to survive. Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently opened up in an interview with Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series, sharing a raw and revealing memory from his struggling days in Mumbai — a time when even Rs 60 was a luxury, not a guarantee.
Back then, Akhtar had managed to secure a small room with a monthly rent of Rs 120, split between him and one other person. It was a modest yet precious space — a hard-won symbol of survival in a city that often swallowed dreams whole. During this period, a young and equally struggling Shatrughan Sinha approached him, asking if he could also stay in the room. What followed was a decision rooted not in arrogance, but in the harsh arithmetic of poverty.
“Tum mujhe bhi nikalwa doge,” Akhtar told him frankly. “Rs 60 mahina tum kahaan se laaoge? Har mahine tum Rs 60 de sakoge? Impossible.” His fear was real — if Sinha couldn’t pay, they’d both be evicted, and in those days, finding shelter was as uncertain as finding work. Every rupee counted, and every decision could mean the difference between sleeping under a roof or on the street.
Though he turned Sinha down, Akhtar recalled being struck by his confidence and flair — qualities that, even in the darkest times, hinted at the star Shatrughan Sinha would later become. Despite the rejection, there was no animosity, only mutual respect born out of shared struggle and dreams too big for their circumstances.
Akhtar didn’t shy away from painting a vivid picture of the brutal realities they faced. He spoke of going without food for more than two days at a stretch. The thought of eating outside Mahim Dargah — a place known to offer free meals — never even occurred to him. Breakfast was considered a luxury, and each day was a relentless fight for the basics: food, shelter, and hope.
This story isn’t just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a powerful testament to the sheer grit and determination it took to survive in a city that often demands everything before it gives anything back. Today, both Javed Akhtar and Shatrughan Sinha are towering figures in Indian cinema — but their paths to success were paved with sacrifice, resilience, and a shared hunger for something greater.