Javed Akhtar, the famous lyricist and songwriter was born on January 17th 1945 in Gwalior. He is the son of famous Urdu poet ‘Jaan Nisar Akhtar’ and writer and teacher ‘Safia Akhtar’. His original name was ‘Jaadu’, taken from a line in a poem written by his father: "Lamha, Lamha Kisi Jaadu Ka Fasana Hoga". Javed’s father Jaan Nisar Akhtar was a poet and winner of ‘Sahitya Academi Award’ for his poetry. He was a popular Bollywood song writer and producer of film ‘Bahu Begum’. ‘Javed’ and his younger brother ‘Salman’ were born in 1945 and 1946 respectively. Post-independence riots in Gwalior, Jaan Nisar was forced to shift to Bhopal. In 1949 Jaan Nisar went to Bombay.
Javed Akhtar’s past generation has a lineage of prominent poets and writers. His Great Grandfather was ‘Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi’, the philosopher, poet, religious scholar who was one of the main figures of the First Independence Movement of 1857, and who edited the first works of ‘Ghalib’. His grandfather ‘Haafiz Ahmad Hasan Ruswa’ was also a poet. His grandmother “Sayyed-un-Nisa Hirmaan Khairabadi”, the daughter of ‘Allama Fazle Haq Khairabadi’ was an enlightened poetess herself. His grandfather ‘Muztar Khairabadi’ was a judge and a great Urdu poet. During his lifetime he had received numerous distinguishing titles, including ‘Khan Bahadur’, ‘Eitbar-ul-Mulk’, and ‘Iftikhar-ush-Shuara’. His maternal uncles were ‘Majaz’, a legendry Urdu Poet and ‘Ansar Harwani’ a freedom fighter Journalist and Member of Parliament.
Javed lost his mother at a young age so Javed and his brother Salman were moved to Lucknow to live with their maternal grandfather. His father had to move back and forth between Lucknow and Bombay, so he and his brother spent most of their time with grandparents. He was admitted in class six in ‘Colvin Taluqedar College’ a well-known school of Lucknow. Javed shifted to Aligarh at the age of 9 to live with his aunt and admitted to ‘Minto Circle School’. After matriculation he was sent to Bhopal and joined ‘Saifiya College’, Bhopal. He graduated from there in 1964.
Javed Akhtar arrived in Mumbai on 4 October 1964. In his early years in Mumbai, he had to struggle hard. He did not live with his father but preferred to live with friends searching for job in film industry. For several years he had to manage ghostwriting the dialogue for films. Occasionally, he worked as an assistant to Kamal Amrohi. He got a job as a scriptwriter in ‘Yaqeen’ which flopped.
He got his first major break in the year 1969 in the movie "Seeta Aur Geeta". It was on this set that he met ‘Honey Irani’ and later married her. They had two children, Farhan and Zoya. Farhan Akhtar is a leading producer in the Indian film industry today. Javed divorced Honey Irani and married ‘Shabana Azmi’, a film actress, social worker and the daughter of another famous poet, ‘Kaifi Azmi’.
Javed Akhtar shot to fame when he collaborated with the famous scriptwriter Salim Khan (Father of actor Salman Khan) and they both penned down some unforgettable hits as the duo of ‘Salim-Javed’. Both of them delivered some beautiful hits like ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, etc. They worked with G. P. Sippy as resident screenwriters and produced the screenplays for successful films like ‘Andaz’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Sholay’ and ‘Shan’. His association with Salim Khan lasted until 1980. After this, Akhtar wrote some scripts alone. He has also written successful films like 'Sagar', 'Mr. India', 'Betaab', 'Arjun', 'Lakshya'.
Javed was born a Muslim, but later became an Atheist. Javed Akhtar was married to Honey Irani, a script-writer for Hindi films, with whom he had two children Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors. His son Farhan is married to a Hindu girl called Adhuna.The father and son duo have worked together in films such as ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, ‘Lakshya’, ‘Rock On’ and ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’ along with Zoya.
Work
His first collection of Urdu poems was compiled in ‘Tarkash’, which was released in the year 1995. It was also rendered into audio in his voice. 'Tarkash' is in its eleventh edition in Hindi, and seventh edition in Urdu. It has received rave reviews both as a book and as India's first audio book. Singers such as ‘Jagjit Singh’ and the late ‘Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’ have sung some of his non-movie poetry. The famous artist ‘M.F. Hussain’ is said to have painted around 16 canvases inspired from the poems of Javed Akhtar.
His books 'Talking Films' & 'Talking Songs' published by Oxford University Press have been hailed by film critics as the most definitive works on Indian Cinema.
He is a multi-talented personality who continues to get rave reviews and awards for his works. On the initiative of President Abdul Kalam, Javed Akhtar has written five poems on the Indian flag. These have been interpreted musically by ‘Pandit Jasraj’, ‘Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’, ‘Ustad Zakir Hussain’, ‘L. Subramaniam’ and ‘E. Srinivas’.
Awards
Javed Akhtar has been honored with “Padma Shree” and “Padma Bhushan” from the Govt. of India.
Javed Akhtar has won Filmfare Award fourteen times, seven times for Best Script, and seven times for Best Lyrics for ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha' in '1942-A Love Story', 'Ghar Se Nikalte Hi' for 'Papa Kahte Hain', 'Sandese Aate Hain' for 'Border', Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke Jhonke' for 'Refugee', 'Radha Kaise Na Jale' for 'Lagaan', 'Kal Ho Na Ho' for 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and 'Tere Liye' for 'Veer-Zaara'.
Javed has won the National Award five times. A hat trick of National Awards- In 1996, for Best Lyricist for the film 'Saaz', in 1997, award for 'Border' and again National Award in 1998 for "Godmother". In the year 2000 he again won the National Award for the song 'Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke Jhonke' from the film 'Refugee' and in 2001 for 'Radha Kaise Na Jale' from 'Lagaan'.
He has won the 1995 & 1997, Screen Videocon Awards,. He also won first 'Zee Award' for Best Lyricist for 'Sandese Aate Hain' from the film 'Border'. He was awarded ‘Videocon Screen Award’ as well as ‘Zee Lux Cine Award’ for 'Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke Jhonke' for 'Refugee'.
In the year 2001 Javed recieved 'National Integration Award' from 'All India Anti-Terrorist Association' and 'Avadh Ratan'. He also won 'Hakim Khan Sur Sammaan Award 2003' from Maharana Mewar Foundation, Udaipur.
Filmography
Dialogue Writer-
Luck By Chance , 2009
Lakshya, 2004
Armaan, 2003
Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998
Prem, 1995
Khel, 1992
Saagar, 1985
Arjun, 1985
Mashaal, 1984
Don, 1978
Trishul, 1978)
Imaan Dharam, 1977
Deewar, 1975
Majboor, 1974
Zanjeer, 1973
Seeta Aur Geeta, 1972
Lyricist-
Ek Deewana Tha, 2012) (Under Production)
Don 2, 2011) (Under Production)
Miley Naa Miley Hum , 2011
Love Breakups Zindagi, 2011
Force, 2011
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, 2011
Shaitan, 2011
Zokkomon, 2011
Game, 2011
Life Goes On, 2011
Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, 2011
Bo Mamo, 2011 (Under Production)
The White Land, 2011 (Under Production)
Chamki Chameli, 2011 (Under Production)
Shortcut, 2011 (Under Production)
Mirch, 2010
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, 2010
Aisha, 2010)
Red Alert - The War Within, 2010
Hum Tum Aur Ghost, 2010
Prem Kaa Game , 2010
Karthik Calling Karthik, 2010
Har Pall, 2010
Wake Up Sid, 2009
What'S Your Raashee, 2009
Life Partner, 2009
Short Kut - The Con Is On, 2009
Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, 2009
Luck By Chance, 2009
Rock On!!, 2008)
Love Story 2050, 2008
Khushboo, 2008
Bhoothnath, 2008
Krazzy 4, 2008
Shaurya, 2008
Jodhaa Akbar, 2008
Strangers, 2007
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, 2007
Om Shanti Om, 2007
Marigold: An Adventure In India, 2007
Saadgi, 2007
Ta Ra Rum Pum, 2007
Namastey London, 2007
Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd., 2007
Umrao Jaan, 2006
Don - The Chase Begins Again, 2006
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, 2006
Dil Jo Bhi Kahey, 2005
Mangal Pandey - The Rising, 2005
Bose: The Forgotten Hero, 2005
Tango Charlie, 2005
Kisna, 2005
Swades, 2004
Veer Zaara, 2004
Balle Balle! From Amritsar To L.A, 2004
Dobara, 2004
Kyun! Ho Gaya Na, 2004
Lakshya, 2004
Charas, 2004
Main Hoon Na, 2004
Loc - Kargil, 2003
Tehzeeb, 2003
Kal Ho Naa Ho, 2003
Calcutta Mail, 2003
Kuch Naa Kaho, 2003
Supari, 2003
Chalte Chalte June 13, 2003
Armaan, 2003
The Hero, 2003
Love At Times Square, 2003
Satta, 2003
Badhaai Ho Badhaai, 2002
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, 2002
Moksha: Salvation, 2001
Abhay, 2001
Dil Chahta Hai, 2001
Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India, 2001
Zubeidaa, 2001
Gaja Gamini, 2000
Karobaar, 2000
Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, 2000
Refugee, 2000
Pukar, 2000
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, 2000
Champion, 2000
Gang, 2000
Dillagi, 1999
1947 (Earth), 1999
Godmother, 1999
Baadshah, 1999
Arjun Pandit, 1999
Laawaris, 1999
Angaarey, 1998
Jaan-E-Jigar, 1998
Duplicate, 1998)
Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998
Saaz, 1998
Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe 1998
Bada Din 1998
Ishq, 1997
Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, 1997
Yes Boss, 1997
Mirtyudand, 1997
Border, 1997
Virasat, 1997)
Darmiyaan 1997
Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan 1997
Sardari Begum 1997
Dastak, 1996
Diljale, 1996
Saza E Kala Pani, 1996
Papa Kahte Hain, 1996
Gardish, 1993
Bhookamp, 1993
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, 1993
King Uncle, 1993
Yugandhar 1993
Drohi, 1992
Khel, 1992)
Jhoothi Shaan 1992
Hafta Bandh, 1991
Narsimha, 1991
Jamai Raja, 1990
Sailaab, 1990
Jeevan Ek Sanghursh, 1990
Tezaab, 1988
Mr India, 1987
Saagar, 1985
Arjun, 1985
Duniya, 1984
Mashaal, 1984
Saath Saath 1982
Silsila, 1981
Shabnam 1964
Screenplay –
Mahayoddha Rama 2011 (Under Production)
Don - The Chase Begins Again, 2006
Lakshya, 2004
Armaan, 2003
Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998
Prem, 1995
Khel, 1992
Joshilay, 1989
Saagar, 1985
Arjun, 1985
Mashaal, 1984
Kranti, 1981
Don, 1978
Trishul, 1978
Imaan Dharam, 1977
Deewar, 1975
Majboor, 1974
Zanjeer, 1973
Seeta Aur Geeta 1972
Story Writer –
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, 2010
Dus Kahaniyaan, 2007
Don - The Chase Begins Again, 2006
Lakshya, 2004
Kabhi Na Kabhi, 1998
Prem, 1995
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, 1993
Khel , 1992
Jhoothi Shaan 1992
Main Azad Hoon, 1989
Mr India, 1987
Dacait, 1987
Saagar, 1985
Zamana 1985
Duniya, 1984
Mashaal 1984
Betaab, 1983
Shakti, 1982
Kranti, 1981
Shaan, 1980
Dostana, 1980
Kala Patthar, 1979
Don, 1978
Trishul, 1978
Imaan Dharam, 1977
Chacha Bhatija 1977
Sholay, 1975
Deewar, 1975
Aakhri Dao 1975
Majboor, 1974
Haath Ki Safai, 1974
Yaadon Ki Baarat, 1973
Zanjeer, 1973
Seeta Aur Geeta 1972
Andaaz, 1971
Haathi Mere Saathi 1971
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