Shabana Azmi On Dealing With Javed Akhtar's Drinking Problem: "Was Stinking Of Alcohol..."

Shabana Azmi said, "It is impossible for me to have that kind of willpower he has"

Shabana Azmi opened up about how husband Javed Akhtar quit his "excessive" drinking on Arbaaz Khan's talk show The Invincibles Series Season 2. Shabana recalled, "He knew that if I go on like this, I won't live for long and I won't be able to do my work creatively... We were in a flat in London. He was stinking of alcohol and I said 'Oh my god, this is going to be one of those trips. Very quietly he told me 'Make me some breakfast'. He had breakfast and after that he told me, 'I am not going to drink anymore'."

Revisiting the days, Shabana Azmi said that she was stunned by his words. "I didn't say anything. I just said 'Means?' He said 'I am not going to drink anymore'. He had never said this before and from that day, he has not touched (alcohol)." Shabana added, "It is impossible for me to have that kind of willpower he has." She also called his willpower "incredible."

Javed Akhtar had opened up about his addiction in public during a 2012 episode of Satyameva Jayate. "I started drinking at a very young age of 19. When I came to Bombay after completing my graduation I started drinking with friends and later it became a habit. Earlier I didn't have enough money, but then after my success money flow was also taken care of.  Then came a time when I would drink one bottle a day," he said.