A remarkable mural has recently been unveiled in Bandra, Mumbai, capturing the grandeur of Bollywood’s legendary screenwriting duo, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. This vibrant piece of art is not merely an aesthetic spectacle but a heartfelt tribute to Salim-Javed’s monumental influence on Hindi cinema. The imposing artwork was created by devoted fans and prominently features larger-than-life portraits of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. Surrounding these portraits are the titles of their most iconic films—Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Kranti, Trishul, Chacha Bhatija, Aakhri Daaon, and Yaadon Ki Baaraat—each rendered in the timeless vintage Bollywood poster style. This mural beautifully encapsulates the ‘Angry Young Man’ archetype that Salim-Javed masterfully crafted, celebrating a revolutionary period in Indian cinema defined by compelling stories, unforgettable characters, and powerful dialogues.
The mural was revealed ahead of the launch of the Original docuseries “Angry Young Men” on Prime Video. This three-part series delves deep into the journey of Salim-Javed through candid interviews with the writers themselves, their family members, and other notable figures in the film industry. The series offers an intimate glimpse into their professional milestones and personal struggles, showcasing the trials and triumphs that shaped their illustrious careers.
One of the most poignant moments in the docuseries comes when Javed Akhtar opens up about his early struggles when he first arrived in Mumbai. Despite the comforting nostalgia of his success story, Akhtar’s tearful recollections provide a stark reminder of the hardships many dreamers face. He discusses his deprived days, stating, “When you’re a teenager, life is easy, and you can do anything. That’s what I believed. I decided after my graduation that I’d move to Bombay to work as an assistant director, either with Guru Dutt or Raj Kapoor. They were directors I admired at that time. I was sure I’d become a director myself in a short time.”
However, reality quickly dispelled these youthful illusions. Javed recalls with emotional clarity, “I slept at railway stations, studio compounds, in corridors, on benches, and so on. Sometimes I had to walk miles from Dadar to Bandra because I didn’t have money for the bus fare.
. Sometimes I realised I hadn’t eaten for two days. I used to always think the day I wrote my autobiography or if someone did, this day would make for an amazing moment. This thought never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t make it.”
The hardships etched lasting marks on Akhtar’s memory. He narrates, “If you have been deprived of food or sleep in your life, it leaves a deep mark on you that you will never forget. When I go to a five-star hotel with large sprawling double beds, and sometimes when I am lying there, I remember coming to Bombay in the third-class train compartment. It used to take two days. There was no place to sit in the compartment, not even a place to lean against and I was deprived of sleep, and how tired I was, if only I had a little stretch of that double bed.”
This connection to his past is palpable each time he encounters comforts that were once unimaginable to him. “Sometimes I’m served breakfast on a trolley with butter, jam, half-fried eggs, and coffee. I think if I deserve this even now. I think this breakfast can’t be for me, it must be someone else’s. I can’t get over that.”
The docuseries “Angry Young Men”, produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment, and Tiger Baby, is executive produced by Salma Khan, Salman Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Reema Kagti. This project masterfully captures both the personal and professional journey of Salim-Javed and is currently streaming exclusively on Prime Video, accessible to viewers in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
The mural in Bandra stands as a monumental tribute, not just to the work of Salim-Javed, but to the enduring resilience and revolutionary spirit they symbolized in the Indian film industry. Through their career, Salim-Javed redefined Hindi cinema, and this artwork—set against the vibrant canvas of Mumbai—serves as a lasting homage to their legacy.
