In a charming and candid revelation, veteran actor Shabana Azmi has offered fans a delightful peek into the personal lives and culinary preferences of two iconic figures in Indian cinema—her husband, legendary lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, and close friend, acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah.
A Tiffin Full of Sweets for Javed Akhtar
During a light-hearted conversation with ETimes, Shabana Azmi was asked what she would pack if she ever had to prepare a tiffin for Javed Akhtar. Her affectionate response highlighted a central theme in his life: an unwavering love for sweets. While she noted that his staple favorite dish is the classic Aloo Gosht Ka Salan, the tiffin story took a sugary turn.
"If I really had to pack a tiffin for him it would be a three-tiered tiffin and all of them would contain different kinds of sweets," Shabana shared. She elaborated that Javed Akhtar's fondness for desserts is so profound that he would happily indulge in them first thing in the morning, even for breakfast.
Ranking Javed Akhtar's Favorite Desserts
Delving deeper into his specific preferences, Shabana Azmi revealed the hierarchy of Javed Akhtar's favorite sweets. Topping the list is the quintessential Indian dessert, Gulab Jamun. Following closely is the creamy Bengali delicacy, Mishti Doi. Securing the third spot on his sweet chart is the rich and delectable Milk Cake.
The Ultimate Sweet Duo: Akhtar and Shah's Dessert Adventure
The conversation took an even more entertaining turn when Shabana recalled a memorable anecdote involving Javed Akhtar and Naseeruddin Shah. She disclosed that the two men share an almost unmatched enthusiasm for indulgent desserts, leading to a combination that left her astonished.
"Javed Akhtar and Naseeruddin Shah are capable of eating Khubani Ka Meetha (a very sweet Hyderabadi apricot dessert) with vanilla ice cream and Gulab Jamun!" she exclaimed. Emphasizing the extraordinary nature of this pairing, Shabana added that she has never seen anyone else in her life consume such an intensely sweet combination.
This rare glimpse into their off-screen camaraderie and shared sweet tooth provides a heartwarming and humorous contrast to their serious public personas as stalwarts of Indian arts and culture.
On the work front, Shabana Azmi was last seen in 'Dabba Cartel', produced by Farhan and Shibani Akhtar. Audiences can next look forward to seeing her in the highly anticipated film 'Lahore 1947', which stars Sunny Deol and Aamir Khan and is directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.
