Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar was afresh conferred with the Taj Tareef Award for arete in cinema. The actual genius, who calm with Salim Khan wrote films like Sholay, Deewaar and Trishul, in his brand humour tells us about what fabricated the duo tick, and why the characters and dialogues from their films are remembered even today

You calm with Salim Khan accept fabricated band films which aloft the bar of Hindi cinema.

What according to you is the blueprint of a blockbuster?
If I knew the blueprint I would not accept accounting a adversity like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja! But I can acquaint you the blueprint to accomplish a abiding attempt flop! Embark aloft a plot, cerebration that the blur you are authoritative will be the greatest ever. Second, accept a Software cerebration that you wouldn't like to watch a blur like this, but the admirers will. I agreement that the blur you accomplish will be a flop!

What is your yield about the films accepting fabricated today?
The array of belief we accept today are incredible! But we are accident out on characterisation. Attending at the characters in our films today-they are neither able nor heroic. They accept been replaced by the accustomed man. If I go into the theatre I wish to see an icon, a role archetypal and a being I can adore and attending up to. I absence such characters in todays films.

Did you and Salim saab anytime anticipate that Deewaar would become a band film, and remembered for its dialogues even today?
Not at all! Salim and I never anticipation that the film, or any added films we were making, were accelerating or would yield the association advanced in any way. We wrote belief instinctively.

What according to you was the able point of your screenplays?
The films we wrote are not remembered because of the plots, as hundreds of films with agnate plots accept been made. The characters and their alternation fabricated the films angle out. But I accept to acknowledgment that at times what we anticipation was new and addictive was absent out by the audience. Like Sunny Deol's appearance in Arjun was a absolutely new one, but hardly anyone batten about that. On the added hand, humans appear up to me and say what a admirable chat Kitne aadmi the or Tera kya hoga Kaliya was, and I admiration what is so all-important about such a simple line.

You and Salim were the alone writers who gave a apprenticed Software to film-makers during the 70s. Did that aswell accord to your success?
I know, in those canicule a apprenticed Software was a big thing. But I anticipate developing the art of accepting a ambassador absorbed in your Software is added important. To accept their anima and accomplish them see your point. Basically it's added about how to win and access people!

Do you anticipate a academic training is capital to acceptable a acceptable cine biographer and lyricist?
When I came to Mumbai I didn't apperceive the aberration amid alteration and autograph a screenplay. That's how naïve I was. Everything I learnt was hands-on. I assumption it all depends on how amorous you are about your work.

Do you anticipate afterwards the success of Slumdog Millionaire there will be added access of Western cinema on Hindi cinema?
The furniture, the upholstery and clothes may all be actual Western in our films, but the soul, sensibilities and flavour of Hindi cinema will consistently abide Indian, actual Indian.

What was the anticipation abaft conceptualising villains like Gabbar Singh and Mogambo in your stories?
Our villains were aberrant indeed. They did not lech alone at women, but at everyone! Woh sab ko buri nazar se dekhte the. Authoritative them rather arresting and beyond than activity and not some downmarket rouges was intentional.

You are accepted to be a actual abounding artist and writer. Don't you anticipate you accommodation on superior if you address for Hindi films?
When I address for an aware admirers my plan is added abstruse and high-flown. But if autograph belief or lyrics for a Hindi blur which is for a accumulation admirers I accept to address in a accent which they understand. This is not compromising on superior but it arises out of a admiration to acquaint with the masses.

What are the essentials of a acceptable screenplay?
Awareness, artlessness and intrigue!