My granddaughter has started writing: Javed Akhtar

Mumbai: Noted writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar has revealed that his granddaughter is continuing the family tradition by taking to writing.

"I am fortunate that I was born in a family of writers. I am seventh generation of writer, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar are eighth generation of writers and now Farhan's daughter has started writing... She is in the ninth generation. I was brought up in an environment where books were around so I was influenced to write," Akhtar told reporters here at a book launch last night.

He, however, did not reveal who was a budding writer in Farhan's two daughters-- Shakya and Akira.

"We Indians don't believe in the concept of genre that west has accepted. We don't believe in stories we believe in sagas. And our sagas have all the genres together. This is perhaps because we are genetically trained to accept those stories that have more than one color."

"In recent years what has happened is that in the frenzy to catch the train we have lost certain luggage like literature, art, classical music and so on," he said at the launch of author Debashish Irengbam's book "Me, Mia, Multiple" along with actor Arjun Kapoor.
 

Akhtar feels reading books has its own charm than watching films.

"The kind of imagination and fantasy a book can provide I doubt if cinema can provide that. If you are reading a book you are the director, cameraman, casting director as everything is getting formed in your mind.

"In films and TV you are served things - sets, visuals, faces of actors, locations. While reading a novel you create everything. That is the magic of book," he said.
 

Akhtar confesses that though he has written some fantastic scripts, he finds it difficult to pen a novel.

"I have written so many scripts but I will be slightly scared to write a novel... I don't know if I will be able to do it as it is a different genre of writing."

The veteran writer does feel there are various books that can be turned into a feature film. 

"When you are making a commercial mainstream Hindi film you want to please all. If you are making a Marathi film then Marathi actors, Marathi Language, Marathi culture, traditions become important, same case with Bengali and Guajarati films. As in that case you are catering to the audience of that particular region," Akhtar said.

"Now there is a huge middle class crowd that fills in multiplexes. It will take a generation or two to reach that intellectual level that we had in 50s-60s of middle class people. I think we will have to wait for another 15-20 years then film will be made from novels," he said.