Renowned Bollywood screenwriter and lyricist, Javed Akhtar, recently shared a captivating chapter from his life during an onstage interview with Cyrus Broacha. He revealed that at one point in his life, he developed romantic feelings for a French woman and even proposed marriage to her. Their story began back in 1977 on the sets of the Rajesh Khanna-starrer, “Tyaag.”
Javed reminisced about meeting the enchanting woman, Joseanne, during the filming of “Tyaag.” Their initial encounter left a lasting impression on him, and fate brought them together once more on the sets of “Andaaz.” Soon, they became close friends.
Joseanne was staying at the Rex Hotel, near the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, and she invited Javed to her place after a shoot. There, she introduced him to her friends, deepening their connection.
As time passed, their bond grew stronger, and one day, Joseanne decided to stay in Mumbai, while her other friends left. Javed recollected, “From Taj till Bandra, the taxi used to charge Rs. 14. One day I realized what was happening. So I told her either she should go back or marry me.”
Joseanne initially considered going back but confessed that she had no money for the journey. In a heartfelt gesture, Javed arranged for her tickets with the little money he had, and she eventually returned to her home country.
Although Javed later married Honey Irani and then Shabana Azmi, the story of his connection with Joseanne didn’t end there. He recounted a serendipitous reunion with her 38 years after their last meeting. This reunion occurred when he was attending the renowned Kala Ghoda festival in Mumbai with Shabana.
Javed was pleased to learn that Joseanne had built a family of her own, with three daughters. On his subsequent visit to Paris, he brought gifts for everyone, and her partner, along with all three daughters, came to meet him as they were aware of his role in Joseanne’s life.
During this reunion, Joseanne even shared with Javed the boarding pass from the flight he had helped her secure 38 years ago, adding a touching chapter to their enduring connection.