Javed Akhtar | |
|---|---|
 Akhtar in 2012 | |
| Member of Parliament,Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 22 March 2010 – 21 March 2016 | |
| Nominated by | Pratibha Patil |
| Succeeded by | Navjot Singh Sidhu |
| Constituency | Nominated (Arts) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1945-01-17)17 January 1945 (age 80) |
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| Relatives | Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (great grandfather) Muztar Khairabadi (grandfather) Hamida Salim (aunt) Ansar Harvani (uncle) Majaz (uncle) Salman Akhtar (brother) |
| Education | Colvin Taluqdars' College,Lucknow |
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| Signature |  |
Javed Akhtar[a] (born 17 January 1945) is an Indianscreenwriter,lyricist,poet, andpolitical activist. Renowned for his extensive work inHindi cinema, he has won fiveNational Film Awards and sixteenFilmfare Awards.[1] He was honoured with thePadma Shri in 1999 and thePadma Bhushan in 2007,[2] two of India's highest civilian honours. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters and lyricists in the history of Indian cinema.
Akhtar first gained prominence as one half of the screenwriting duoSalim–Javed, alongsideSalim Khan. The pair achieved their breakthrough withZanjeer (1973) and went on to pen several landmark films, includingDeewaar (1975) andSholay (1975). These works achieved cult status and had a lasting influence on Indian popular culture, particularly through their portrayal of the "angry young man" archetype. Following the duo’s split in the early 1980s, Akhtar transitioned into lyric writing, earning acclaim for his poetic and socially conscious lyrics.
In addition to his film career, Akhtar has been an outspoken public intellectual and activist, known for his advocacy of secularism, freedom of expression, and gender equality. He has written and spoken extensively on issues of religion, human rights, and rationalism. Akhtar served as a nominated member of theRajya Sabha from 2010 to 2016, representing the arts.[3] He also publicly supported theCommunist Party of India (CPI) during the2019 Indian general election. For his contributions to literature, film, and free thought, he became the first Indian to receive theRichard Dawkins Award in 2020.[4][5][6]
In 2024,Amazon Prime Video released a three-part documentary series titledAngry Young Men, focusing on the partnership between Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. The documentary explores their creative process, personal relationship, and the enduring impact of their films on Indian cinema.[7]
Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 inGwalior.[8] His fatherJan Nisar Akhtar was a songwriter inHindi films and anUrdu poet.[9] His paternal grandfatherMuztar Khairabadi was a poet as was his grandfather's elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, while his great great grandfather,Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a religious scholar of Islam who declared theIndian Rebellion of 1857 against the western colonies.[10] Javed Akhtar's original name was Jadoo, taken from a line in a poem written by his father: "Lamha, lamha kisi jadoo ka fasana hoga". He was given the official name of Javed since it was close to the wordjadoo.[11] He spent most of his childhood and was schooled inLucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College inBhopal.[12]
Initially, in the 1970s, there was generally no concept of having the same writer for the screenplay, story and dialogue, nor were the writers given any credits in the titles.Rajesh Khanna is credited with givingSalim Khan and Javed Akhtar their first chance to become screenplay writers by offering them work inHaathi Mere Saathi.[13] Javed Akhtar stated in an interview that one day, he went toSalimsaab and said that Mr. Devar had given him a huge signing amount with which he could complete the payment for his bungalow, Aashirwad. But the film was a remake and the script of the original was far from being satisfactory. "He told us that if we could set right the script, he would make sure we got both money and credit."[14]
Their first big success was the script forAndaz (1971), followed byHaathi Mere Saathi (1971) andSeeta Aur Geeta (1972). They also had hits withYaadon Ki Baaraat (1973),Zanjeer (1973),Haath Ki Safai (1974),Deewaar (1975),Sholay (1975),Chacha Bhatija (1977),Don (1978),Trishul (1978),Dostana (1980),Kranti (1981),Zamana (1985) andMr. India (1987). They have worked together in 24 films including twoKannada films –Premada Kanike andRaja Nanna Raja.
Of the 24 films they wrote, 20 were hits. The scripts they wrote, but which were not successful at box office includeAdhikar (1971),Aakhri Dao (1975),Immaan Dharam (1977) andShaan (1980). Though they split in 1982, due to ego issues, some of the scripts they wrote were made into hit films later, such asZamana andMr. India. Salim-Javed, many a time described as "the most successful scriptwriters of all-time",[15] are also noted to be the first scriptwriters inIndian cinema to achieve star status.[16]
“There are certain things that I’d like to make clear at the very outset. Don’t get carried away by my name — Javed Akhtar. I am not revealing a secret, I am saying something that I have said many times, in writing or on TV, in public… I’m an atheist, I have no religious beliefs. And I don’t believe in spirituality of some kind".[17]
Akhtar was nominated to the Parliament upper houseRajya Sabha on 16 November 2009.[18]Akhtar was married toHoney Irani, with whom he had two children,Farhan Akhtar, a film actor, producer, director[19] andZoya Akhtar, a film writer, director and producer.[20] The father-and-son duo have worked together in films such asDil Chahta Hai,Lakshya,Rock On!! andZindagi Na Milegi Dobara withZoya.Farhan was married toAdhuna Akhtar, a hair stylist.[21]
Despite having an Islamic upbringing, Akhtar declared himself to be an "equal opportunityatheist" who is against all faiths,[22][23] and also brought up his childrenFarhan andZoya Akhtar as atheists.[24] However, he continues to identify as a "cultural Muslim" because of his heritage associated with theIslamic civilization.[25][26]
Akhtar marriedShabana Azmi, the daughter of Urdu poet,Kaifi Azmi and later divorcedIrani.[27] Akhtar's uncle, Asrar-ul-Haq "Majaz" was also an Urdu poet. His uncle,Ansar Harvani, was a member of the Indian independence movement and an elected Member of Parliament. Akhtar's aunt,Hamida Salim, was an Indian author, economist and educator as well.[28]
Javed was awarded the civilian honour ofPadma Shri by the Government of India in 1999, followed by thePadma Bhushan in 2007.[2] In 2013, he received theSahitya Akademi Award inUrdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collectionLava.[29] In 2019, he was conferred with anhonorary doctorate (Doctor of Letters) by theJamia Hamdard University.[30] In 2020 he was awarded theRichard Dawkins Award for being a "powerful force for secularism, reason, and human rights, challenging superstition and intolerance through his work in poetry, screenwriting, and political activism".[31][5]LokmatSur Jyotsna National Music Award - 2025Legend Award for him contribution to Indian music.[32]
| Year | Category | Outcome | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Best Lyrics | Won | Saaz | |
| 1997 | Won | Border | ||
| 1998 | Won | Godmother | ||
| 2000 | Won | Refugee | ||
| 2001 | Won | Lagaan |
| Year | Category | Outcome | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Best Screenplay | Won | Zanjeer | As "Salim-Javed" |
| 1974 | Best Story | Won | Zanjeer | |
| 1976 | Won | Deewar | ||
| 1976 | Best Dialogue | Won | Deewar | |
| 1976 | Best Screenplay | Won | Deewar | |
| 1983 | Won | Shakti | ||
| 1984 | Best Story | Nominated | Betaab | |
| 1985 | Nominated | Mashaal | ||
| 1986 | Nominated | Arjun | ||
| 1989 | Best Lyricist | Nominated | "Ek Do Teen" fromTezaab | |
| 1990 | Best Dialogue | Won | Main Azaad Hoon | [1] |
| 1995 | Best Lyricist | Won | "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from1942: A Love Story | |
| 1997 | Won | "Ghar Se Nikalte" fromPapa Kehte Hai | ||
| 1998 | Won | "Sandese Aate Hai" fromBorder | ||
| 1998 | Nominated | "Chand Taare" fromYes Boss | ||
| 1999 | Nominated | "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" fromDuplicate | ||
| 2001 | Won | "Panchchi Nadiyaan" fromRefugee | [1] | |
| 2002 | Won | "Mitwa" fromLagaan | ||
| 2002 | Nominated | "Radha Kaise Na Jale" fromLagaan | ||
| 2004 | Won | "Kal Ho Na Hoo" fromKal Ho Naa Ho | [1] | |
| 2005 | Won | "Tere Liye" fromVeer-Zaara | ||
| 2007 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Honoured | — | |
| 2009 | Best Lyricist | Won | "Jashn-E-Bahaara" fromJodhaa Akbar |
| Year | Category | Outcome | Work | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Album of The Year | Nominated | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | [33][34] | |
| Lyricist of The Year | Won | "Khwabon Ke Parindey" fromZindagi Na Milegi Dobara | |||
| Nominated | "Senorita" fromZindagi Na Milegi Dobara | ||||
| 2012 | Won | "Jee Le Zara" fromTalaash | [35] | ||
| 2014 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | - | [36] | |
| 2015 | Album of The Year | Nominated | Dil Dhadakne Do | [37] | |
| Lyricist of The Year | Nominated | "Phir Bhi Yeh Zindagi" fromDil Dhadakne Do | |||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)JA: I write dialogue in Urdu, but the action and descriptions are in English. Then an assistant transcribes the Urdu dialogue into Devnagari because most people read Hindi. But I write in Urdu.
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