The captivating tale of Bollywood's original "angry young men" is soon to be unveiled, captivating Indian cinema enthusiasts. Esteemed Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Salman Khan, and Farhan Akhtar, will share their insights into the legendary writer-lyricist duo, Salim-Javed. In the trailer for Angry Young Men released by Prime Video, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, along with their families and close friends, reflect on their unparalleled cinematic legacy.
The video opens with Salman Khan expressing his nervousness about the project, a rare sentiment for the actor. Farhan Akhtar then introduces the subject by acknowledging the deep personal connection he has with his father’s work, saying, "The only reason I knew my Dad wrote those films was because he was my Dad." The trailer then highlights one of Amitabh Bachchan's most iconic lines from Deewar: "Main aaj bhi feke hue paise nahi uthata" (Even today, I don't accept money thrown at me).
Zoya Akhtar, while reflecting on the duo’s monumental impact, notes, "They did 24 films together, out of which 22 were blockbusters. It hasn't happened before, and I don't think it will happen again." This testament to their success is further emphasized by Salim Khan's light-hearted comment, “After watching this, Hollywood should call me and say: ‘We are short on stars.’”
The documentary also features Aamir Khan, who poses a significant question, “Can you name a single writer today whose name alone draws the audience?” Hrithik Roshan, a close friend of Farhan Akhtar, also shares his thoughts, stating, “Whoever has grown up watching their films carries a little bit of Salim-Javed in their blood.” Filmmaker Karan Johar adds to the praise, calling Salim-Javed the "hottest jodi" in Bollywood history.
The trailer concludes with Amitabh Bachchan reminiscing about the unique partnership between Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, saying, “Them being together was altogether a different story.” Testimonials from Shabana Azmi, Honey Irani, and others further underscore the immense influence of the duo on Indian cinema.
Angry Young Men is a three-part documentary series, produced collaboratively by Salman Khan Films, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, and Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti's Tiger Baby Films. Directed by Namrata Rao, known for her editing work in films like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Ishqiya, Band Baaja Baaraat, and Kahaani, the series explores the groundbreaking journey of Salim-Javed, the masterminds behind blockbuster films such as Zanjeer, Sholay, and Deewar. Angry Young Men is set to release on August 20.
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