Javed Akhtar reached a significant milestone in his life yesterday — the screenwriter-lyricist turned 80. Reflecting on the occasion, he shares, “You keep moving ahead, milestones come and go. Ultimately, it’s just the planet rotating on its axis around the sun. It’s a seamless process, usse humne birthdays bana diye hain lakeerein kheench ke. We should not take it seriously.”

When asked about his plans for the big day, Akhtar reveals, “I was at my farmhouse, and I called some close friends and family over. There was a grand celebration when I turned 75, but now I think it’s enough, we’ve done everything.”

Looking back at the eight decades gone by, he says that life has been kind: “The grand total is in my favour. There have been ups and downs, but I am in profit, so no complaints.”

About the best gift he has received in his lifetime, Akhtar shares, “I think the best gift is my children. They have done well in their lives. It becomes an emotionally and socially aesthetic situation, if both your children go on to achieve so much.”