How Salim Khan's tragic prediction for Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani's marriage came true

In the docu-series, which premiered on Tuesday, Javed spoke candidly about his marriage to his first wife Honey Irani. In a remarkable revelation, Akhtar recounts how his long-time collaborator and friend Salim harbored an unshakable superstition – that if he witnessed the marriage, it would inevitably lead to its demise.

In the third episode of the series, Salim talks about the early relationships between Javed and Honey. “Honey was a very good friend of mine. Javed suggested her name during the casting of Sita Aur Gita. They soon became ecstatic about their relationship. Honey's mother told him, 'I don't like you coming here every day, you should marry her',” said Salim.

Cut to Javed recalling Salim's superstitions regarding his and Honey's wedding. Recalling the anecdote, he said, “Salim Sahab said, 'You need two witnesses to get married.' I replied, 'You are. Of course, I wouldn't choose anyone else.' He said, 'Don't make me the best man.' I asked why? 'All the marriages I have been the best man in have fallen apart.'”

“I am not a superstitious person at all. So I said, 'No, I don't believe in all this. You will be my witness.' But then it turned out that he was right,” Javed added.

Javed then spoke about the guilt he felt towards his first wife, whom he divorced in 1984 before marrying Shabana Azmi. “Honey is the only person in the world I feel guilty towards. And she is the only person. 60 to 70 percent of the responsibility for the failure of that marriage lies with me. If I had as much understanding as I do today, maybe everything wouldn't have gone wrong. It's very difficult to accept. But that's the way it is.”

Javed and Honey married in 1972. After 12 years of marriage, the couple divorced. Their two children – Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar – continued to live with Honey.

Decades later, Honey said they remain close friends today. “I guess what had to happen happened. But one thing I can definitely say is that we are still very good friends. I think we are best friends now. Yes. I mean, I know he is there for me whenever I need him. And he knows I am there for him, whatever he does. No matter how many accidents he has! And the kids are there and they handle them perfectly, even Shabana has been very nice,” she says in the series.

Shabana on the separation of Javed and Honey and her relationship with the children:

In the show, Shabana also talks about the time when Javed and Honey were on the verge of divorce and explains why she didn't give her side of the story. She further says, “In any relationship, even love triangles, it's very personal and very painful, especially when there are children involved. And it becomes even more hurtful because people are so quick to judge and say, 'She's an adulteress! She's a marriage destroyer!' Of course, I wanted to explain my point of view, but then I thought that I would end up hurting way too many people. And so it was wise to stay quiet and not explain myself and take the criticism that I would naturally get.”

The 73-year-old actor also gave credit to Honey for not turning the children against her. “And I give a lot of credit to Honey because she could have easily told the kids stories against me. She just didn't. She reassured them that she didn't have to be seen as an evil stepmother. She and I have a very warm and really beautiful relationship. And I'm very grateful because we were all very graceful. All three of us were very graceful, but she was the most important. She had the most to give and she gave,” Shabana said.