Shabana Azmi recalls Javed Akhtar's reaction when she was offered 'Fire' as same sex love wasn't even discussed; he told her to remove make-up to play a witch

Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar have been married for 40 years now and they still continue to serve goals because of how candid they are about each other and their relationship. They've also always been very honest. Javed Akhtar had recently opened up on how his children also reacted to his second marriage with Shabana. Javed was earlier married to Honey Irani and he continues to share a great friendship with her still. In a recent interview, Azmi opened up on how she and Akhtar are also each other's biggest critics when it comes to their work.
They also share ideas and give honest feedback to each other. Azmi said during a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, "We exchange ideas and because he is in the same business as me it becomes much easier. But we come from two different schools. For instance, I had problems with Javed regarding house construction. I thought why is he making a mansion when I wanted a weekend cottage, but my friend said that he will always think Sholay and I will always think Ankur. So that happens when I want to make something, he wants to expand it. But I am also very critical of him so when I compliment him, he gets really happy.”
She further revealed Akhtar's reaction when she was offered Deepa Mehta's 'Fire'. "Since we have the same world view, it often influences the roles that we take up. I remember when Fire was offered to me, I was in two minds because same sex love at that time wasn’t even discussed. Javed asked me if I like the script and if I would be able to defend it. I said, ‘Yes,’ and he said, ‘Go ahead.’ That gave me courage," she added.
However, Shabana broke the myth that being a screenwriter and poet, Javed always says beautiful things to her. "But before you think Javed Akhtar is saying only beautiful things, I will tell you that when I was doing Makdee, I played a witch in that film, I tried all kinds of makeup for that character. He saw me in all those things. He asked me, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘I am playing a witch.’ He then said, ‘So remove all your makeup.’ (laughs) We don’t take each other seriously. We don’t believe in each other’s myths," she said.
Shabana was last seen in 'Ghoomer' and 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'.