Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently shared candid insights into the historical treatment of assistant directors (ADs) within the Hindi film industry during his formative years, contrasting it sharply with the more streamlined and respectful environment prevalent today. Speaking at the inaugural day of the 19th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Akhtar revealed that ADs in his time were often subjected to menial tasks, including fetching personal items for actors, such as shoes and coats. He remarked on the lack of respect afforded to their position back then, stating, 'What was our job? Bring Madam's shoes quickly. Where is the hero's coat? Where is the jacket? We used to do all this.' He noted that modern assistant directors enjoy a much more professional relationship with stars, often addressing them by their first names, a scenario he couldn't have imagined in his early days. Beyond his reminiscences on Bollywood's past, Akhtar also delved into the topic of secularism during his session, 'Javed Akhtar: Points of View.' He articulated that secularism is not something that can be taught through 'crash courses' or formal instruction but rather emerges naturally as a 'way of life' when individuals are surrounded by and absorb such values. He stressed that genuine secularism is ingrained through observation of elders and admired figures, rather than being an artificial adherence to points from a lecture. This dual focus on industry evolution and societal values provided a comprehensive perspective from the acclaimed writer. The claims in the Hindustan Times article are corroborated by other credible Indian news outlets such as India.com, NDTV, and National Herald, all reporting on Akhtar's statements at the JLF.