I have always loved Javed Akhtar. His command over language, his humor, his body of work, his willingness to question convention, and even his atheism, are all things I find fascinating about him.
But what I admire most is his ability to stand apart without constantly worrying about what people will say. There is a certain freedom in that.
I often come back to this clip when I watch stand-up comedy that seems to have reduced itself to shock value, profanity, and crude language. Good comedy can be provocative. It can challenge us, make us uncomfortable, expose hypocrisy, and say things we may not want to hear.
But words alone don't make something witty. Language is a craft. Humor is an art. And Javed Akhtar has spent a lifetime reminding us of what words can do when they are actually chosen with thought.
Sharing it here because some conversations are worth having, especially when we seem to be confusing being uninhibited with being original.
