Honey Irani’s journey in the Indian film industry is a tale of talent, resilience, and reinvention. From an iconic child actor to a celebrated screenwriter of blockbuster films like Lamhe, Darrr, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, and Krrish, she came a full circle.
Early Life
Honey Irani was born on August 25, 1955, into a Parsi family that was originally from Gujarat. She also has four more siblings: Menaka, Bunny, Sarosh, and Daisy Irani, who was the most famous child star of the early fifties.
Child Superstar Honey Irani
Honey Irani entered the cinematic world as a child actor in the 1959 film “Didi.” starring Sunil Dutt, Shobha Khote and Feroz Khan. She graces the silver screen with her presence in films such as “Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan,” Qaidi No. 911 (1959), Masoom (1960), Barood (1960), Amar Rahe Yeh Pyar (1961), Zameen Ke Tare (1961), Ramu Dada (1961), Teen Ustad (1961), Pyar Ki Pyas (1961), Ek Dhaaga Sukhacha (1961), Aashiq (1962), Soorat Aur Seerat (1962), Sautela Bhai (1963), Bombay Ka Chor (1963), Akela (1963), Aandhi Aur Toofan (1964), Shehnai (1964), and many more.
She took a hiatus from acting in the late 1960s and came back to films with films like “Maharaja (1970),” “Kati Patang (1970),” “Amar Prem (1971),” and “Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)” as Sheila.
Marriage and Motherhood
Her personal life took a dramatic turn when she met scriptwriter and poet Javed Akhtar on the sets of “Seeta Aur Geeta.” The couple married in 1972 and had two children, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar, both of whom would go on to become influential filmmakers in the Hindi film industry. However, the couple separated in 1978, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1985. Famous siblings Farah Khan and Sajid Khan are children of Honey’s sister Menka Irani.
Irani showcased her remarkable adaptability by turning to embroidery on sarees as a means of livelihood. But her creative spirit was undeterred. She had been penning short stories, and it wasn’t long before she found her calling as a screenwriter.
Honey Irani The Screenwriter
In the 1990s, Honey transitioned into writing and went on to become a highly successful scriptwriter. The first film she wrote was Yash Chopra’s “Lamhe” in 1991. After that, she wrote films like “Aaina (1993),” “Darr (1993),” “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997),” “Kya Kehna (2000),” “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000),” “Armaan (2003),” which she also directed, “Koi… Mil Gaya (2003),” “Krrish (2006),” and “Krrish 3 (2013),” displaying a knack for storytelling and character development.
Her collaborations with iconic filmmakers like Yash Chopra and Rakesh Roshan cemented her reputation as a proficient screenwriter. Honey’s ability to craft narratives with emotional depth resonated with audiences and resulted in 3 Filmfare Awards for Story/Screenplay for “Lamhe,” “Kya Kehna” & “Kaho na…Pyar Hai.”
Honey Irani on IMDB
