Arriving in Bombay in 1964, Javed Akhtar endured a grueling six-year period marked by financial strain. Surviving on intermittent ghostwriting jobs, he often went hungry but was resolute, never allowing thoughts of a safety net to enter his mind. With aspirations to work alongside cinematic giants like Raj Kapoor, his dedication eventually led to his rise as part of the famed writing partnership, Salim-Javed.