Javed Akhtar’s divorce with Honey Irani had a massive impact on their son, Farhan Akhtar. Javed and Honey separated in 1985 and since then, Farhan has become avoidant when it comes to conflicts. Farhan recently appeared on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast with his wife, Shibani Dandekar, and said that his parents’ divorce pushed him further into a shell.
He said, “In terms of a defining moment for me that changed my entire view about things, it is probably the separation of my parents. Till then, it just felt like everything was okay. And I think it made me go further into my shell because being the younger one, I really didn’t know what was going on.”
Farhan added, “I had no idea what was happening. Zoya (Akhtar) was a lot more aware of what was going on, and I think in some way, being the elder one, she kind of shielded me from the kind of grief my mom was going through at that point in time. I think my mom was more comfortable talking to her, as a girl. And Zoya has always been older and wiser than her age. She grew up a lot faster. Whereas I was just in my own world, unaware of what was happening.”
Farhan revealed, “I think I got very defensive post my parents’ separation, because kids were being pretty mean when we had fights, and kids don’t have that filter so they say anything that can hurt the other kid. They are not aware of the psychological or emotional damage they are doing to someone. I think that’s the part that made me kind of angry–‘Why do I have to hear this?’”
“The largest effect that it had on my personality is that it made me completely non-confrontational. My first instinct when there is any sign of conflict is to move away. I will disconnect completely, instead of sitting and finding a solution for the problem or even understanding the problem. My first instinct is to not want to be there,” shared Farhan.
Previously, in an interview with Faye D’Souza, Farhan had said, “Back then, it wasn’t common for parents to be divorced. But because of who my parents were, it was public knowledge. If someone wanted to hit you below the belt in the school during a fight, they would say, ‘But your father left your mother’. And it would hurt. So apart from the fact that you were sad it happened, it would make you angry that it could be used against you.”
Meanwhile, on the work front, Farhan Akhtar will soon be seen in 120 Bahadur. He will play PVC Major Shaitan Singh in the film. He will also be directing Don 3, starring Ranveer Singh and Kiara Advani. He also plans to make Jee Le Zara with Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif.
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