Aamir Khan may be good pals with Farhan Akhtar but he has definitely ruined his relationship with Farhan’s father Javed Akhtar. When a group of producers met up with a number of lyrcists and writers of the industry to sort out a pending entanglement with regards to credits in films, it landed up becoming a war of words between Khan and Akhtar Senior. Apparently Aamir had made it quite clear that he didn’t believe the role of a lyricist was that important in a song amongst many other statements. According sources, that was the last straw for Akhtar who quickly reminded Aamir of the following, “Your first big song was ‘Papa Kehte Hain’. Did it make you a star or did you make that a song run?”
According to Aamir, it was the picturization of a song that contributes to ensure a songs success and he stood by his statement to which Akhtar finally blurted out, “Your so-called contribution is nothing but interference. We lyricists would be eternally grateful if you keep your so-called contribution to yourself. We manage to do good work not because of, but in spite of your contribution.” Matters went on to become worst when Aamir went on to further claim that, “a writer contributes more than a song-writer to the film.” It was a single line from Akhtar that silenced Aamir for the moment, “Good for Chetan Bhagat,” he snickered.
Akhtar went on to confirm after the meeting, “I wouldn’t like to comment on what happened between me and Aamir. But this is not just a matter about lyricists, but all writers. Certain royalties have to be paid to writers, which in our film industry, aren’t paid properly. We writers are almost like bonded laborers. There is no room for us to profit in any way… age – we have our rights. And producers have to understand this. All the lyricists, writers and musicians have joined hands to fight this issue together. I am not alone.”
