Nearly a month after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, veteran actress Shabana Azmi and renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar flew to London aboard the same airline to attend Wimbledon. The incident from June 12, in which a London-bound Air India flight crashed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, claimed the lives of 241 people onboard and several more on the ground. While investigations are ongoing, Shabana and Javed’s recent journey has sparked both admiration and criticism online.
On July 8, Shabana Azmi shared a picture on her Instagram handle from inside the business class cabin of the aircraft. The couple is seen seated comfortably, with Javed Akhtar dressed in a grey kurta and Shabana in a beige outfit paired with a printed scarf and hat. The photo exudes calm and confidence, with a Louis Vuitton tote beside her—a subtle nod to travel elegance.
Captioning the image, Shabana wrote: “Off to London for #Wimbledon on #AirIndia. Reiterating our faith in our #National carrier with the best inflight service in the world.” She also tagged her husband, Javed Akhtar.
While the post received thousands of likes and comments, reactions were mixed. Actress Richa Chadha commented, “Waah waah,” echoing admiration for the couple. However, not all responses were positive. A section of netizens questioned whether the exceptional in-flight service was reserved for celebrities. One user wrote, “They are giving you the best inflight service because you are celebrities who will give them positive publicity. People who are not celebrities get to see what the actual Air India is.”
Amid the criticism, many well-wishers extended prayers for the couple’s safe travel and applauded their confidence in India’s national airline. Notably, Shabana and Javed are not the only celebrities to extend public support to Air India in recent weeks. Earlier, actresses Raveena Tandon and Celina Jaitly also praised the airline for its efforts and services in the aftermath of the tragedy.
