Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani got married in 1972 after a period of courtship that started while they were working together on the film Seeta Aur Geeta. Their bond was built on a strong foundation of love, shared creativity and mutual admiration. They had two children together (Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar) and were considered one of the most talented pairs in the industry. However, over time, personal differences began to surface, eventually leading to their separation in the 1980s.
Honey Irani recently spoke about their relationship in an interview with a film magazine. She recalled how their love story began during a light-hearted moment while playing a card game on the sets of Seeta Aur Geeta. Javed had jokingly remarked that she was lucky for him and that he should marry her, a comment that reflected their closeness at the time. They dated for about seven to eight months before deciding to get married.
Reflecting on their separation, Honey admitted to feeling hurt and angry but she said that she never reacted in a dramatic way. She clarified that Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar’s second wife, was not the reason behind their split. She shared that perhaps Javed was searching for something different than what they had. Despite everything, Honey said that there remains a strong sense of trust and respect between them, especially concerning their children. She expressed confidence that Javed would never do anything that could negatively affect them and that understanding helped her deal with the situation.
After their separation, both Honey and Javed continued to thrive in their careers. Honey earned acclaim as a screenwriter with successful films like Lamhe, Kya Kehna and Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. Javed Akhtar, already an established writer, went on to become one of the most respected lyricists and poets of the country.
Javed Akhtar later married Shabana Azmi in 1984 and their union has been known for its shared values, intellectual companionship and social awareness.