Celebrated poet, lyricist, screenwriter, and social commentator Javed Akhtar, who was born on January 17, 1945, in Gwalior, is an Indian into a family of literary geniuses and luminaries. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a poet of great repute, and a member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement, He was also a film lyricist.
Javed Akhtar’s grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi and his elder brother Bismil Khairabadi were poets. His 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.
Words are not thoughts, just like bricks are not homes. But houses are made with bricks. If you have less bricks, you will make a small house. The more words you have, the clearer your thoughts, and the more clearly you can convey them.
Javed Akhtar
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His mother, Safia Akhtar, was herself a writer and sister of revolutionary poet Majaz & Freedom fighter and Member of Parliament, Ansar Harvani. Her sister is author, economist, and educator Hamida Salim.
Javed has a brothers named Salman Akhtar, who is a famous psychoanalyst and writer working at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia as a psychiatry and human behaviour professor. He also has one half brother Shahid Akhtar and two half sisters, Uneza Akhtar and Albina.
Initially, his name was ‘Jadoo (magic),’ which was taken from his father’s poem “Lamha, lamha kisi jadoo ka fasana hoga (Each moment will be a story of the magic).” He was given the official name ‘Javed’ as it was closest to the word ‘Jadoo.’ He studied in Colvin Taluqdars’ College, Lucknow, when he was six. He completed his schooling from Minto Circle School, Aligarh and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Saifiya College in Bhopal.
During his college days, he was a good debater. He won Rotary Club Prize for three years consecutively. He even won several inter-college debates and also represented Vikram University at the National Youth Festival in Delhi.
Javed came to Mumbai in 1964, in hopes of making it big in Bollywood. He had no food to eat and no place to sleep. After spending his night under trees or corridors, he finally found a place to stay in Kamal Amrohi Studio in Jogeshwari.
The Salim – Javed
Salim Khan and Javed first met on the sets of “Sarhadi Lootera,” where Salim was an actor and Javed was Clapper boy, Later, Javed was promoted to dialogue writer. Salim Khan used to generate ideas and Javed used to frame the dialogues. Although they have done ghostwriting for a number of projects, their big break was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar (1971). When Rajesh Khanna hated the story of one of his proposed films and asked them to improve It, they changed the whole story and the film became Hathi Mera Sathi.
They continue to do films like Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), 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.Through Salim-Javed Salim’s script “Zanzeer,” Amitabh Bachchan got his iconic title of “Angry-Young Man.”
In 1983, Javed made his debut as a solo screenwriter with the movie “Betaab.”
Though the duo, Salim-Javed, had a split in 1982, some of the scripts they had written earlier became huge hits, such as “Zamana (1985)” and “Mr. India (1987).”
Javed Akhtar started his career as a lyricist with “Dekha Ek Khwab” from the movie “Silsila (1981).” He became one of the most successful song writers of all time, with five National Film Awards for Best Lyrics for – “‘Saaz (1996),” “Border (1997),” “Godmother (1998),” “Lagaan (2001),” and “Refugee (2000).” He also won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist eight times for “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha” from 1942: A Love Story, “Ghar Se Nikalte” from Papa Kehte Hai, “Sandese Aate Hai” from Border, “Panchchi Nadiyaan” from Refugee, “Radha Kaise Naa Jale” from Lagaan, “Kal Ho Naa Ho” from Kal Ho Naa Ho , “Tere Liye” from Veer-Zaara, & “Jashn-E-Bahara” from Jodhaa Akbar.
Akhtar married Honey Irani, a famous child actor and screenwriter, in 1972, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar, and Zoya Akhtar, both famous filmmakers. Farhan Akhtar is known for films like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don, Rock On!!, and Bhag Milkha Bhag, while Zoya directed Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadkne Do and Gully Boy.
Akhtar and Honey separated in 1978, Akhtar Later married Shabana Azmi in 1984
