Javed Akhtar Age, Wiki and Bio

Javed Akhtar

Quick Info

ProfessionLyricist, Screenwriter, Poet
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth17/01/1945
Age79 years
BirthplaceGwalior, Gwalior State, Central India Agency, British India
ReligionAtheist
HometownLucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Bio/Wiki

NicknameJadoo
Debut
As a Screenwriter (with Salim Khan)Andaaz (1971)
As a Screenwriter (Solo)Betaab (1983)
As a lyricistSilsila (1981)
Awards/Achievements
  • Padma Shri (1999)
  • Padma Bhushan (2007)
  • 5-time National Award winner for Best Lyrics for the movies- Saaz (1996), Border (1997), Godmother (1998), Refugee (2000) and Lagaan (2001)
  • Sahitya Akademi Award (Urdu) for his poetry collection- ‘Lava’ (2013)
  • Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for Best Lyricist for the song ‘Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se’ from the film ‘Dunki’ (20 February 2024)
Controversies
  • In 2016, when former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt took a jibe at Gurmehar Kaur, Javed Akhtar took to Twitter to share his piece of mind.
  • British filmmaker Leslee Udwin's 'India's Daughter (Nirbhaya)' documentary became a matter of heated debate at the time of its release. Javed Akhtar and a number of other politicians had a different view.
  • On 1 February 2021, he filed a criminal complaint against Kangana Ranaut in which he alleged that the actress linked his name to Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged suicide case during an interview.

Physical Stats & More

Height165 cm, 1.65 m, 5’ 5”
Weight75 kg, 165 lbs
Eye ColorDark Brown
Hair ColorWhite

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolNot Known
College/UniversitySaifiya College, Bhopal
Educational QualificationGraduate in Arts

Personal Life

Zodiac SignCapricorn
SignatureN/A
Address702/Sagar Samrat, Green Field Road, Near Juhu, Mumbai- 400049
HobbiesWatching Cricket

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Affairs/GirlfriendsHoney Irani, Shabana Azmi
Wife/SpouseHoney Irani (Ex-wife), Shabana Azmi (m. 1984-present)
Marriage Date9 December 1984 (with Shabana Azmi)

Family

FatherJan Nisar Akhtar (Songwriter & poet)
MotherSafia Akhtar (Singer)
BrothersSalman Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar
SistersUneza Akhtar, Albina
SpouseHoney Irani (Ex-wife), Shabana Azmi
Children
SonFarhan Akhtar (son from first wife)
DaughterZoya Akhtar (daughter from first wife)

Favourites

Favourite PoemMera Safar by Ali Sardar Jafri
Favourite PoetKaifi Azmi, Sahir Ludhianvi
Favourite ActorDilip Kumar
Favourite FoodKebabs, Vanilla Ice-Cream, Aloo Gosht Ka Shorba, Biryani
Favourite SportCricket

Some Lesser Known Facts

Javed Akhtar used to be an alcohol addict but does not drink alcohol now.
Javed Akhtar was originally named "Jadoo" by his parents, inspired by a poem written by his father.
Generations of poets and songwriters have been a part of Akhtar's family, including his grandfather, elder brother, and father who was a famous songwriter in Bollywood.
His great-grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a scholar of Islamic studies and played a significant role in India's first independence movement in 1857.
In 1964, Javed Akhtar came to Mumbai with Bollywood aspirations, facing homelessness and hunger before finding shelter at Kamal Amrohi Studio in Jogeshwari.
The iconic writing duo Salim-Javed met on the set of the film 'Sarhadi Lootera' in 1966, started collaborating, and achieved immense success with 20 hit films, including 'Sholay'.
Scripts by Salim-Javed were later adapted into successful films like Zamana (1985) and Mr. India (1987).
Javed Akhtar and his first wife, Honey Irani, coincidentally share the same birthday on 17 January.
Akhtar used to assist Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi and developed a close bond with Azmi's daughter, Shabana Azmi, through frequent visits to their home.