Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar, the son of famous poet and film lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar, has scripted lyrics for some of Amitabh Bachchan`s most famous movies, including Sholay, Zanjeer, and Deewar. He met his future wife, Honey Irani, while scripting the 70s film Seeta Aur Geeta, and their son, Farhan Akhtar, has recently made his directorial debut with the 2001 hit Dil Chahta Hai -- the score of which naturally boasts his father`s eloquent and evocative prose. Akhtar is now married to actress and activist Shabana Azmi, and his former wife is planning her own directorial debut.

Son of well-known Urdu poet and film lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar and Safia Akhtar, teacher and writer, Javed Akhtar belongs to a family lineage that can be traced back to seven generations of writers. The highly respected Urdu poet, Majaz was his mother`s brother and the work of Muzter Khairabadi, his grandfather, is looked upon as a milestone in Urdu Poetry.

Javed Akhtar`s body of work can be categorized under three distinct categories: a) Script Writer b) Lyricist c) Poet

Alongwith his ex-partner, Salim, he scripted super hits like, `Zanjeer`, `Deewar`,` Sholay`, `Haathi Mere Saathi`, `Seeta Aur Geeta`, `Don`, `Trishul`, etc. Salim-Javed as a writer-duo gave to and to Indian Cinema the memorable persona of the `Angry Young Man`.

After the split from his partner Salim (in 1981), he has written a list of successful films, notable amongst them are; `Sagar`, `Mr. India`, `Betaab`, `Arjun` and Lakshya etc.

Javed Akhtar started writing Urdu poetry in 1980. His first collection of Nazms and Ghazals entitled, `TARKASH` has had a very successful release in 1995. It is already in its ninth edition in Hindi, and fifth edition in Urdu. It has received rave reviews both as a book and as India`s first audio book (available on cassettes and CD) brought out by PLUS MUSIC. The audio book has sold more than a hundred thousand copies.

Dr. David Matthews, formerly Senior Lecturer in Urdu and Nepali at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University have translated TARKASH in English. The book, entitled as "QUIVER" was released by Prof. Amartya Sen. TARKASH was translated in Bengali by the noted Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyaya. The book is also translated into Gujarati. The celebrated painter M.F. Husain has painted sixteen canvases based on Javed Akhtar`s poems in Tarkash.

Javed Akhtar has written a large number of poems against communalism, social injustice, National Integration and for Women`s Rights. Ministry of Human Resource Development has declared his song, beckoning the misguided youth to come forward and build the country, the National Anthem for Youth in 1995.

On the initiative of President Abdul Kalam, Javed Akhtar has written five poems on the Indian flag. Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Zakir Hussain, L Subramaniam and E Srinivas have interpreted these musically.

Two books "Talking Films" & "Talking Songs" published by Oxford University Press have featured Javed Akhtar in conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir a London based journalist. These have been hailed by film critics as the most definitive works on Indian Cinema. "Talking Songs" also carry translations of 60 Javed Akhtar`s songs.

He is a founder member of the respected Muslim Intelligentsia-a group that has been vocal against fundamentalism of all hues and seeks to lead the Muslims to concentrate on education and women`s rights.

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti 2nd October 2003 Javed Akhtar released the declaration of MUSLIMS FOR SECULAR DEMOCRACY. MFSD, of which Javed Akhtar is president, was formed after consultation with large numbers of organizations and intellectuals from all sections of society. MFSD has not only taken a secular, liberal and progressive stand, but to a great extent has succeeded in building a consensus on controversial issues of Muslims such as Uniform Civil Code, Triple Talaq, Haj Subsidy etc. It is heartening to note that MFSD has found support amongst both Teachers and Students Associations of Aligarh Muslim University. Chapters of MFSD have been launched in cities like Aligarh, Allahabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and Mumbai. It is an ongoing process.

He is an active member of "Citizens for Justice and Peace". CJP is an organization for eleven people that has kept the Gujarat Genocide issue alive and has taken Gujarat government to court.

India Today a weekly magazine equal to Time and News Week has included Javed Akhtar`s name in a list of 50 Most Powerful people in the Country.