The 1970s is considered one of the most iconic decades in Bollywood, with much of the credit going to the legendary writing duo, Salim-Javed, for their epic stories. However, Amit Aaryan, the writer of TV shows like FIR and Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai, recently made a controversial claim, accusing Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar of plagiarism rather than originality.
In an interview with Digital Commentary, Aaryan shared his perspective on the celebrated screenwriting duo, saying, “I do not consider Salim and Javed writers. They are two people whom the whole world salutes, but they have only, in their entire lives, plagiarised. Salim and Javed are copy-writers, not writers.” He supported his claim by citing examples, including the famous 1975 film Sholay, which he alleged was heavily inspired by Raj Khosla’s Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971).
Amit elaborated, “Sholay features one man, whose hands were cut off and his family eliminated by a dacoit, trying to take revenge against his rival through other persons. In Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Vinod Khanna played a dacoit named Jabbar Singh, who became Gabbar Singh in Sholay. Actor Jayant played a retired soldier in the Khosla movie whose one hand was cut off. In Sholay, there is a retired police officer with both his hands cut off.” He added that Amitabh Bachchan’s character was the only new addition to the storyline.
Aaryan further argued that every scene in Sholay was copied from other films, and extended his critique to other Salim-Javed works, like Deewaar (1975), which he claimed was copied from Gunga Jumna (1961). He accused the duo of repeatedly copying from their own earlier works as well, citing films like Gunga Jumna, Deewaar, and Shakti as examples of such repetition. “Salim and Javed are better businessmen and salesmen. They knew how to sell something and narrate it well,” he remarked.
Despite these strong accusations, Aaryan recalled a positive interaction with Salim Khan, sharing that Khan was a big fan of FIR and had even invited the show’s team to lunch with his family. He also referenced the recent documentary Angry Young Men, which he claimed was an attempt by Salim-Javed’s children to clear their image.
Meanwhile, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Angry Young Men was spread across three episodes and perfectly capsuled anecdotes about Salim-Javed. News18 Showsha gave the series a 3.5/5 rating and wrote, “Directed by Namrata Rao, this three-part series isn’t just a tribute but an exploration of their professional brilliance and personal complexities, showcasing the men who revolutionised Hindi cinema.”
The series shed light on how Salim-Javed became a pair, the money they charged for their films, their biggest hits, their downfall and their split. The series also put the spotlight on Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s marriages.
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