'Life has been too kind to me': Javed Akhtar recalls being 'homeless and starving' on his first day in Mumbai

Legendary poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently took to X to revisit the day he first arrived in Mumbai, sharing a story of struggle, perseverance, and gratitude. On October 4, 1964, the 19-year-old Akhtar arrived at Bombay Central Station with just 27 naya paisa in his pocket. Facing homelessness, hunger, and unemployment, he navigated the challenges of a new city that would eventually shape his illustrious career.

In his post, Akhtar wrote, “On 4th October 1964, a 19-year-old boy had disembarked at Bombay Central Station with 27 naya paisa in his pocket. Went through homelessness, starvation, and unemployment, but when I look at the total, I feel life has been too kind to me. For that, I cannot help but thank Mumbai, Maharashtra, my country, and all those who looked at work kindly. Thank you, thank you so much.”




Akhtar recently reflected on the balance of hard work and circumstances in shaping a person’s life. Comparing life to a game of rummy, he explained that while circumstances (like cards dealt in a game) are beyond one’s control, skill and effort determine how those circumstances are played. “Life, sometimes I feel, is like a game of Rummy. You may be a good player, but if you don’t get a good card, what will you do? There’s skill in playing, but cards are important—so are the circumstances,” he told NDTV.

When asked about destiny, Akhtar clarified his viewpoint, distinguishing it from circumstance. He emphasized that life is not pre-written. “Circumstances are not destiny; they are random. Destiny means something is pre-written. No, nothing is pre-written. Every person alive is making some effort. Seven billion patterns make a strange pattern in society. These are circumstances, not planned—they are random,” he said, illustrating how individual efforts intersect with the actions of millions around us.

Reflecting on his journey, Akhtar expressed deep gratitude for Mumbai and the opportunities it provided. The city, he said, transformed the struggling teenager into one of India’s most celebrated writers and poets, leaving him thankful for every challenge and chance he encountered.