Legendary poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar Recently took to X to visit the day he first arrived in Mumbai and shared a story about struggle, endurance and gratitude. On October 4, 1964, 19-year-old Akhtar arrived at Bombay Central Station with only 27 Naya Paisa in his pocket. Against homelessness, hunger and unemployment, he navigated the challenges in a new city that would eventually shape his famous career.In his post, akhtar wrote, “on 4th october 1964, a 19-years-seold boy had disembarked at bombay central station with 27 naya paisa in his pocket. Went through homeness, starvation, and unemployment, i life to the ook at the ook. Cannot Help But Thank Mumbai, Maharashtra, My Country, and All Those Who Looked at Work Kindly. Thank you, thank you very much. “Akhtar recently reflected on the balance between hard work and circumstances when it comes to shaping a person’s life. Comparison of life with a game with Rummy, he explained that while circumstances (which are briefly divided into a game) are beyond one’s control, skill and effort determine how these circumstances are played. “Life, sometimes I feel, is like a game with Rummy. You may be a good player, but if you don’t get a good card, what should you do? There is skill to play, but briefly are important – then the circumstances,” he told NDTV.On the question of Destiny, Akhtar clarified its point of view and separates it from the circumstances. He emphasized that life is not prescribed. “The circumstances are not deserted; they are random. Destiny means that something is prescribed. No, nothing is prescribed. Every person who lives makes a certain effort. Seven billion patterns make a strange pattern in society. These are circumstances, not planned-they are random,” he said and illustrates how individual efforts cross the documents around us.As he reflected 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 famous writers and poets and left him grateful for every challenge and chance he met.
