Javed Akhtar


Javed Akhtar is an Indian poet, lyricist, screenwriter, and political activist, originally from Gwalior area. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as five National Film Awards. In early part of his career he was a screenplay writer, creating movies like Deewar, Zanjeer and Sholay. Later he left screenplay writing and became a lyricist and social-political activist. He also remained member of Rajya Sabha.. 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. Javed Akhtar was chosen as a recipient for the Richard Dawkins Award for being "the bright light for reason, freethought, and atheism in a dark time".

Early life

Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior. His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet. 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. 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. He spent most of his childhood and was schooled in Lucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal.
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. 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 and Mehboob Khan's Aan. Other films that influenced him as a child include Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zameen, Satyen Bose's Jagriti, Shree 420 directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Munimji directed by Subodh Mukherjee and written by Nasir Hussain, and Mehboob Khan's Mother India.

Career

1971–1982

Initially, in the 1970s, there was 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. 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."
Their first big success was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar, Haathi Mere Saathi and Seeta Aur Geeta. They also had hits with Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Zanjeer, Haath Ki Safai, Deewaar, Sholay, Chacha Bhatija, Don, Trishul, Dostana, Kranti, Zamana and Mr. India. 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, Immaan Dharam, Kaala Patthar and Shaan. 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", are also noted to be the first scriptwriters in Indian cinema to achieve star status.

1982–present

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

Personal life

Akhtar was raised an atheist. He has brought up his children Farhan and Zoya Akhtar as atheists.
Akhtar was married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors and actors. 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.
Javed married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi and later divorced Irani. On February 2019, Akhtar canceled his visit to attend an event in Karachi organized by the Karachi Arts Council due to the Pulwama attack.

Awards and nominations

Akhtar was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2007. In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava. In 2019, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Jamia Hamdard University.. 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".
YearAwardCategoryOutcomeWorkNotes
1996National Film AwardsBest LyricsSaaz
1997National Film AwardsBest LyricsBorder
1998National Film AwardsBest LyricsGodmother
2000National Film AwardsBest LyricsRefugee
2001National Film AwardsBest LyricsLagaan
1995Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from 1942: A Love Story
1997Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Ghar Se Nikalte" from Papa Kehte Hai
1989Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Ek Do Teen" from Tezaab
1990Filmfare AwardsBest DialogueMain Azaad Hoon
1998Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Sandese Aate Hai" from Border
1998Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Chand Taare" from Yes Boss
1999Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam" from Duplicate
1984Filmfare AwardsBest StoryBetaab
1985Filmfare AwardsBest StoryMashaal
1986Filmfare AwardsBest StoryArjun
2001Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Panchchi Nadiyaan" from Refugee
2002Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Radha Kaise Naa Jale" from Lagaan
2002Filmfare AwardsBest Lyrics"Mitwa" from Lagaan
2011Mirchi Music AwardsAlbum of The YearZindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2011Mirchi Music AwardsLyricist of The Year"Khwabon Ke Parindey" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2011Mirchi Music AwardsLyricist of The Year"Senorita" from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2012Mirchi Music AwardsLyricist of The Year"Jee Le Zara" from
2014Mirchi Music AwardsLifetime Achievement Award-
2015Mirchi Music AwardsAlbum of The YearDil Dhadakne Do
2015Mirchi Music AwardsLyricist of The Year"Phir Bhi Yeh Zindagi" from Dil Dhadakne Do

Filmography

As screenwriter

YearFilmLanguageDirectorCastNotes
1971AndazUrduRamesh SippyRajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Shammi Kapoor, Simi GarewalWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1971AdhikarUrduS.M. SagarAshok Kumar, Nanda, Deb MukherjeeWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1971Haathi Mere SaathiUrduM. A. ThirumughamRajesh Khanna, TanujaWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1972Seeta Aur GeetaUrduRamesh SippyHema Malini, Dharmendra, Sanjeev KumarWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1973Yaadon Ki BaaraatUrduNasir HussainDharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq KhanWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1973ZanjeerUrduPrakash MehraAmitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, PranWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1974MajboorUrduRavi TandonAmitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, PranWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1974Haath Ki SafaiUrduPrakash MehraRandhir Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Hema Malini, Simi Garewal, RanjeetWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1975DeewaarUrduYash ChopraAmitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Neetu SinghWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1975SholayUrduRamesh SippyDharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya BhaduriWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1975Aakhri DaoUrduA. SalaamJeetendra, Saira Banu, Danny DenzongpaWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1976Premada KanikeKannadaV. SomashekharRajkumar, AarathiWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1976Raja Nanna RajaKannadaA. V. Seshagiri RaoRajkumar, AarathiWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1977Immaan DharamUrduDesh MukherjeeAmitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, RekhaWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1977Chacha BhatijaUrduManmohan DesaiDharmendra, Randhir Kapoor, Hema MaliniWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1978TrishulUrduYash ChopraAmitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema MaliniWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1978DonUrduChandra BarotWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1979Kaala PattharUrduYash ChopraAmitabh BachchanWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1980DostanaUrduRaj KhoslaWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1980ShaanUrduRamesh SippyWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1981KrantiUrduManoj KumarWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1982ShaktiUrduRamesh SippyDilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Anil KapoorWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1985ZamanaUrduRamesh TalwarRajesh Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Ranjeeta KaurWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1987Mr. IndiaUrduShekhar KapurAnil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish PuriWritten as "Salim-Javed"

YearFilmLanguageDirectorCastNotes
1983BetaabUrduRahul RawailSunny Deol, Amrita SinghWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1984DuniyaUrduRamesh TalwarDilip Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita SinghWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1984MashaalUrduYash ChopraDilip Kumar, Anil KapoorWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1985SaagarUrduRamesh SippyRishi Kapoor, Kamal HaasanWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1985ArjunUrduRahul RawailSunny Deol, Dimple KapadiaWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1985Meri JungUrduSubhash GhaiAnil Kapoor, Meenakshi SheshadriWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1987DacaitUrduRahul RawailSunny Deol, RaakheeWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1989Main Azaad HoonUrduTinnu AnandAmitabh Bachchan, Shabana AzmiWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1992KhelUrduRakesh RoshanAnil Kapoor, Madhuri DixitWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1993Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka RajaUrduSatish KaushikAnil Kapoor, SrideviWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
1995PremHindiSatish KaushikSanjay Kapoor, Tabu
1998Kabhi Na KabhiHindiPriyadarshanAnil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff
2004LakshyaUrduFarhan AkhtarHrithik Roshan, Preity ZintaWritten as "Javed Akhtar"
2006UrduFarhan AkhtarShah Rukh Khan, Priyanka ChopraWritten as "Javed Akhtar"

As lyricist