Rumours were rife that iconic screenwriter duo Salim-Javed’s last collaboration, Mr India (1987), was originally penned with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in mind. However, things didn’t materialise, and Indian cinema witnessed the end of a prolific partnership in 1981. While many assumed Big B had a part to play in it, Javed Akhtar, on Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series, clears the air once and for all.

Imagine an angry, not-so-young man standing up for his rights. That was Javed Akhtar in 2012, as he had the Copyright Amendment Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha – a move that drew the ire of Bollywood producers and music labels. In a tell-all chat on Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series, the noted scriptwriter recalls how he rescripted the future of Indian musicians by fighting for their royalties. Full episode to be out on May 10.