Javed Akhtar

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For the Pakistani cricketer, see Javed Akhtar (cricketer).

Javed Akhtar
Javed Aktar 2010.jpg
Akhtar in 2010
Nominated Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
22 March 2010 – 21 March 2016
Personal details
Born (1945-01-17) 17 January 1945 (age 76)
Gwalior, Gwalior State, British India
(present-day Madhya Pradesh, India)
NationalityIndian
Spouse(s)
  • Honey Irani
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1972; div. 1985)​
    ; 2 children
  • Shabana Azmi
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
Children
  • Zoya Akhtar (daughter)
  • Farhan Akhtar (son)
Parents
  • Safiya Siraj-ul Haq (mother)
  • Jan Nisar Akhtar (father)
EducationColvin Taluqdars' College, Lucknow
Occupation
  • Lyricist
  • Political activist
  • Poet
  • Screenwriter
Awards
Signature

Javed Akhtar (born 17 January 1945) is an Indian poet, lyricist, screenwriter and political activist who works in Hindi cinema. He is originally from the Gwalior area. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007),[1] the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as five National Film Awards.[2] In the early part of his career, he was a screenplay writer, creating films such as Deewar, Zanjeer and Sholay. Akhtar eventually shifted his work focus from less screenwriting to more lyrics writing and socio-political activism. He campaigned for Communist Party of India (CPI) and their candidate in the 2019 Indian general election. He also remained a member of Rajya Sabha.[3] In 2020, he received the Richard Dawkins Award for his contribution to secularism, free thinking, for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values.[4][5] He was chosen as a recipient for the Richard Dawkins Award for being "the bright light for reason, freethought, and atheism in a dark time".[6][7]

Early life[]

Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior.[8] His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet.[9] His grandfather Muztar Khairabadi was a poet as was his grandfather's elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, while his great great grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a scholar of Islamic studies and theology and played an important role in the First Independence Movement of India in 1857.[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 the closest to the word jadoo.[11] He spent most of his childhood and was schooled in Lucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal.[12]

Akhtar was greatly inspired by Pakistani author Ibn-e-Safi's Urdu novels, which he grew up reading as a child. Akhtar was particularly influenced by the Jasoosi Dunya and Imran series of detective novels, such as The House of Fear (1955). He was influenced by their fast action, tight plots, economies of expression, fascinating characters with catchy memorable names, and speaking styles. Two of the earliest films he remembered watching both starred Dilip Kumar: Shaheed Latif's Arzoo (1950) and Mehboob Khan's Aan (1952). Other films that influenced him as a child include Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zameen (1953), Satyen Bose's Jagriti (1954), Shree 420 (1955) directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Munimji (1955) directed by Subodh Mukherjee and written by Nasir Hussain, and Mehboob Khan's Mother India (1957).[13]

Career[]

1971–1982[]

Main article: Salim-Javed

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 giving Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar their first chance to become screenplay writers by offering them work in Haathi Mere Saathi.[14] Javed Akhtar stated in an interview that one day, he went to Salimsaab 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."[15]

Their first big success was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). They also had hits with Yaadon 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) and Mr. India (1987). They have worked together in 24 films including two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 24 films they wrote, 20 were hits. The scripts they wrote, but which were not successful at box office include Aakhri Dao (1975), Immaan Dharam (1977), Kaala Patthar (1979) and Shaan (1980). Though they split in 1982, due to ego issues, some of the scripts they wrote were made into hit films later, such as Zamana and Mr. India. Salim-Javed, many a time described as "the most successful scriptwriters of all-time",[16] are also noted to be the first scriptwriters in Indian cinema to achieve star status.[17]

1982–present[]

Akhtar was nominated to the Parliament upper house Rajya Sabha on 16 November 2009.[18]

Personal life[]

"that I would like to make very clear at the very outset. Don't get carried away by my name – Javed. I am not revealing a secret, I am saying something that I have said many times, in writing o I love Altaf Hussan And obviously I don't believe in spirituality of some kind."

—Akhtar talking about his religious beliefs.[19]

Akhtar was married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar, a film actor, producer, director[20] and Zoya Akhtar, a film writer, director and producer.[21] The father-and-son duo have worked together in films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Zoya. Farhan was married to Adhuna Akhtar, a hair stylist.[22] Akhtar is an atheist.[23] and brought up his children Farhan and Zoya Akhtar as atheists.[24] Akhtar married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi and later divorced Irani.[25] Akhtar's uncle, Asrar-ul-Haq "Majaz" was also a notable 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.[26]

Awards and nominations[]

Javed was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2007.[1] In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava.[27] In 2019, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Letters) by the Jamia Hamdard University.[28] In 2020 he was awarded the Richard 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".[4][6]

hideYear Award Category Outcome Work Notes
1996 National Film Awards Best Lyrics Won Saaz
1997 National Film Awards Best Lyrics Won Border
1998 National Film Awards Best Lyrics Won Godmother
2000 National Film Awards Best Lyrics Won Refugee
2001 National Film Awards Best Lyrics Won Lagaan
1995 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Won "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from 1942: A Love Story
1997 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Won "Ghar Se Nikalte" from Papa Kehte Hai
1989 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Nominated "Ek Do Teen" from Tezaab
1990 Filmfare Awards Best Dialogue Won Main Azaad Hoon
1998 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Won "Sandese Aate Hai" from Border
1998 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Nominated "Chand Taare" from Yes Boss
1999 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Nominated "Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" from Duplicate
1984 Filmfare Awards Best Story Nominated Betaab
1985 Filmfare Awards Best Story Nominated Mashaal
1986 Filmfare Awards Best Story Nominated Arjun
2001 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Won "Panchchi Nadiyaan" from Refugee
2002 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Won "Radha Kaise Naa Jale" from Lagaan
2002 Filmfare Awards Best Lyrics Nominated "Mitwa" from Lagaan
2011 Mirchi Music Awards Album of The Year Nominated Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara [29][30]
Lyricist of The Year Won "Khwabon Ke Parindey" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Nominated "Senorita" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2012 Won "Jee Le Zara" from Talaash [31]
2014 Lifetime Achievement Award Won - [32]
2015 Album of The Year Nominated Dil Dhadakne Do [33]
Lyricist of The Year Nominated "Phir Bhi Yeh Zindagi" from Dil Dhadakne Do

Works[]

Bibliography[]

Filmography[]

As screenwriter[]

Teamed as Salim-Javed
Year Film Language Director Cast Notes
1971 Andaz Hindi[36] Ramesh Sippy Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Shammi Kapoor, Simi Garewal Written as "Salim-Javed"
1971 Adhikar Hindi S.M. Sagar Ashok Kumar, Nanda, Deb Mukherjee Written as "Salim-Javed"
1971 Haathi Mere Saathi Hindi M. A. Thirumugham Rajesh Khanna, Tanuja Written as "Salim-Javed"
1972 Seeta Aur Geeta Hindi Ramesh Sippy Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar Written as "Salim-Javed"
1973 Yaadon Ki Baaraat Hindi Nasir Hussain Dharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq Khan Written as "Salim-Javed"
1973 Zanjeer Hindi Prakash Mehra Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Pran Written as "Salim-Javed"
1974 Majboor Hindi Ravi Tandon Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, Pran Written as "Salim-Javed"
1974 Haath Ki Safai Hindi Prakash Mehra Randhir Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Hema Malini, Simi Garewal, Ranjeet Written as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Deewaar Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh Written as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Sholay Hindi Ramesh Sippy Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri Written as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Aakhri Dao Hindi Jeetendra, Saira Banu, Danny Denzongpa Written as "Salim-Javed"
1976 Premada Kanike Kannada V. Somashekhar Rajkumar, Aarathi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1976 Raja Nanna Raja Kannada A. V. Seshagiri Rao Rajkumar, Aarathi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1977 Immaan Dharam Hindi Desh Mukherjee Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Rekha Written as "Salim-Javed"
1977 Chacha Bhatija Hindi Manmohan Desai Dharmendra, Randhir Kapoor, Hema Malini Written as "Salim-Javed"
1978 Trishul Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini Written as "Salim-Javed"
1978 Don Hindi Chandra Barot Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Pran (actor) Written as "Salim-Javed"
1979 Kaala Patthar Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee Gulzar, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh Written as "Salim-Javed"
1980 Dostana Hindi Raj Khosla Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Zeenat Aman, Pran (actor), Amrish Puri Written as "Salim-Javed"
1980 Shaan Hindi Ramesh Sippy Sunil Dutt, Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee Gulzar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda Written as "Salim-Javed"
1981 Kranti Urdu Manoj Kumar Manoj Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Hema Malini, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1982 Shakti Urdu Ramesh Sippy Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Anil Kapoor Written as "Salim-Javed"
1985 Zamana Urdu Ramesh Talwar Rajesh Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Ranjeeta Kaur Written as "Salim-Javed"
1987 Mr. India Urdu Shekhar Kapur Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish Puri Written as "Salim-Javed"
As Javed Akhtar
Year Film Language Director Cast Notes
1983 Betaab Urdu Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Amrita Singh Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1984 Duniya Urdu Ramesh Talwar Dilip Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita Singh Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1984 Mashaal Urdu Yash Chopra Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Saagar Urdu Ramesh Sippy Rishi Kapoor, Kamal Haasan, Dimple Kapadia Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Arjun Urdu Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Dimple Kapadia Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Meri Jung Urdu Subhash Ghai Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1987 Dacait Urdu Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Raakhee Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1989 Main Azaad Hoon Urdu Tinnu Anand Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1992 Khel Urdu Rakesh Roshan Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1993 Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja Urdu Satish Kaushik Anil Kapoor, Sridevi Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1995 Prem Hindi Satish Kaushik Sanjay Kapoor, Tabu
1998 Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi Priyadarshan Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff
2004 Lakshya Urdu Farhan Akhtar Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Amitabh Bachchan Written as "Javed Akhtar"
2006 Don: The Chase Begins Again Urdu Farhan Akhtar Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra Written as "Javed Akhtar"

As lyricist[]

See also[]

  • List of Urdu-language poets

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Javed Akhtar Awards & Nominations List - Filmibeat". FilmiBeat. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  3. ^ President appoints 5 new members to Rajya Sabha
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Javed Akhtar Wins Richard Dawkins Award, retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Javed Akhtar Becomes Only Indian to Win Richard Dawkins Award". 7 June 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/javed-akhtar-wins-richard-dawkins-award/
  7. ^ Fidalgo, Paul (2020). "Richard Dawkins award goes to writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar". Skeptical Inquirer. 45 (5): 6.
  8. ^ Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ed. (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  9. ^ "On Father's Day, Javed Akhtar recalls the man who taught him poetry". The Hindu. 16 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Happy Birthday Javed Akhtar: 10 best quotes from the legendary lyricist and writer". Hindustan Times. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  11. ^ Chopra, Anupama (2000). Sholay: The Making of a Classic. Penguin Books India. p. 16. ISBN 0-14-02997-0X.
  12. ^ David John Matthews, ed. (2001). Quiver: Poems and Ghazals. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-437-9.
  13. ^ Chaudhuri, Diptakirti (2015). Written by Salim-Javed: The Story of Hindi Cinema's Greatest Screenwriters. Penguin Books. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9789352140084.
  14. ^ "More facts about Rajesh Khanna". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
  15. ^ Hungama, Bollywood. "The Magic of Haathi Mere Saathi - Latest Movie Features - Bollywood Hungama".
  16. ^ Sholay, through the eyes of Salim Khan, [1], Rediff.com
  17. ^ Ramesh Dawar (2003), Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema, Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd.
  18. ^ "Javed Akhtar, Dua nominated to Rajya Sabha – India – DNA". Dnaindia.com. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Eye on England". Telegraphindia.com. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Farhan Akhtar". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Zoya Akhtar". IMDb. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Transcript of the Javed Akhtar Chat". rediff.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  23. ^ Faye D'Souza [@fayedsouza] (10 June 2020). "JAVED AKHTAR EXPLAINS ATHEISM: Javed Akhtar becomes the first Indian to win the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award for his courageous stand against religious dogma. He talks to Faye D'Souza about what Atheism really is and how to live as an atheist in a religiously charged society" – via Instagram.
  24. ^ "10 Self-Proclaimed Celebrity Atheists | Entertainment | iDiva.com | Page 4". iDiva.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Honey Irani on Divorce, Survival & Shabana Azmi". iDiva.com. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  26. ^ "Urdu author Hamida Salim passes away". The Hindu. 17 August 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Poets dominate Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013" Archived 19 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Sahitya Akademi. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Javed Akhtar Conferred With Honorary Doctorate by Jamia Hamdard University". News18 India. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011". 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2018.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  30. ^ "Winners - Mirchi Music Awards 2011".
  31. ^ "Winners - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2012". www.radiomirchi.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Winners - Mirchi Music Awards 2014". MMAMirchiMusicAwards. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  33. ^ "MMA Mirchi Music Awards". MMAMirchiMusicAwards. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  34. ^ Akhtar, Javed. "Nine poems by the 'other' Javed Akhtar". Scroll.in. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  35. ^ IANS (19 December 2013). "Javed Akhtar among Sahitya Akademi Award winners for 2013". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  36. ^ Aḵẖtar, Jāvīd; Kabir, Nasreen Munni (2002). Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar. Oxford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 9780195664621. 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.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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