We know him as the poet par excellence. But Javed Akhtar is also a very sentimental human being.

Even his wife, the accomplished Shabana Azmi, didn't know it until recently when the couple watched her ready-for-release flick "15 Park Avenue" in Kolkata recently.

Javed watched in rapt attention. At the end of the film, directed by Aparna Sen, he burst into a fit of sobs.

Recalls Shabana with affectionate amusement: "I couldn't believe my husband was reacting in this way to one of my films. He's my harshest critic. Of course he's prone to fits of emotions. But I had never seen him react this way. It was a truly illuminating experience."

Last week Javed and Shabana spent a quiet holiday in Singapore.

"We were at this Banyan resort with pools that created an illusion of oceanic waves as one bathed. It was so awesome. And Javed was at his inspired best. He wrote a song for Karan Johar's 'Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna' which I rate as among Javed's best. Lucky Karan," said Shabana.

The couple returned in time for Shabana's birthday Sep 18.

"It was a very quiet and happy birthday with my family and close friends. My children Farhan and Zoya came. But my grand daughter (Farhan's little daughter) refused to come. She called me up and said: 'I don't feel like coming'. Can you believe a child so young being so sure of what she wants?"