Javed Akhtar does not have a romantic bone in his body: Shabana Azmi

New Delhi: Javed Akhtar may be one of the most romantic poets in India but his wife Shabana Azmi says the noted lyricist is completely different in real life.

Shabana, 65, who has been married to Akhtar from last 36 years, says they are more friends than husband and wife.

"It was his wit that attracted me and I found him very bright for me and in many-many ways exactly like my father. My father was a feminist and Javed too. So, we both had a common cultural view.

"I think the reason we are supposed to be happy is because we share such a warm friendship... But, I would like to make it clear that Javed does not have a romantic bone in his body though he writes so much on these lines," Shabana said at the India Today Conclave 2016, where she and Javed spoke about "Relationship Status: The Story of modern love".

The lyricist said space is important to sustain a relationship longer.

"Most of the time we are together via satellite. She is somewhere else and I am somewhere else. Both of us are travelling constantly. There were times that we had met for a short while in airport. If you meet less, your love increases," Javed said.

The writer, who was previously married to Honey Irani, said he fell in love with Shabana because she is the daughter of his favourite poet Kaifi Azmi and not that she is a successful actress.

"To tell you the truth, our affair really started with her father. My first attraction was she is Kaifi Azmi's daughter and other stuff fell into place later... I feel a good relationship is like a good poetry, which should be felt like a thought."