Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945, is an Indian poet, lyricist, and screenwriter. Well-known for his contributions to Hindi cinema, he has been honored with two of India's highest civilian honors, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, in addition to five National Film Awards.

After becoming well-known as part of the pair Salim-Javed, Akhtar made his screenwriting debut with 1973's Zanjeer. He went on to create the screenplays for the 1975 motion pictures Sholay and Deewaar, which both attracted cult followings and had a big influence on popular culture. Later on, he was praised for his lyrical work and was honored with five National Film Awards for Best Lyrics and eight Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist.

In the 2019 Indian general election, Akhtar prominently supported the Communist Party of India (CPI) and its candidate. He also served as a Rajya Sabha member of Parliament. In 2020, he was awarded the Richard Dawkins Award for his contributions.

Family & Education

In 1945, Javed Akhtar was born in Gwalior. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was an Urdu poet and a composer for Bollywood films. His paternal grandpa, Muztar Khairabadi, and his grandfather's older brother, Bismil Khairabadi, were also poets. In contrast, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, his great-great-grandfather, was an Islamic scholar in 1857 for religious reasons who declared jihad against the English. Jadoo was Javed Akhtar's original name; it was derived from the line "Lamha, lamha kisi jadoo ka fasana hoga" in a poem that his father had written. Since Javed was the name that came closest to the term "jadoo," it was given to him as his given name. He attended school and spent the majority of his early years in Lucknow. He received his degree from Bhopal's Saifiya College.

Work as a Scriptwriter:

The idea of the script, story, and dialogue all being written by the same person wasn't widely accepted in the 1970s, and neither were the writers' names mentioned in the titles. Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar's first opportunity to write screenplays was reportedly provided by Rajesh Khanna when he offered them work on Haathi Mere Saathi. Javed Akhtar claimed in an interview that he went to Salim Saab one day and told the residents that Mr. Devar had given him a huge signing amount so he could finish paying for his home, Aashirwad. The original script, however, could have been more satisfactory, and the movie was a remake.

Adhikar (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi, and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) were their next three notable successes after the script for Andaz, which was their first major hit. Additionally successful films by them include 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've collaborated on 24 films, including the two Kannada blockbusters Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja.

Twenty of the 24 films they wrote were big successes. Aakhri Dao (1975), Immaan Dharam (1977), Kaala Patthar (1979), and Shaan (1980) are some of the screenplays they authored but were not financially successful. Despite the fact that they broke up in 1982 over ego problems, some of the scripts they wrote went on to become successful films, including Mr. India and Zamana. Salim-Javed, who has frequently been referred to as "the most successful scriptwriter of all time," is known for being the first scriptwriter to become a star in Indian cinema.

Personal Life:

Akhtar was married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children: Zoya Akhtar, a film writer, director, and producer, and Farhan Akhtar, an actor, producer, and director of films. In films like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Rock On!, and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara alongside Zoya, the father-and-son team has collaborated. Adhuna Akhtar, a hair stylist, was Farhan's wife. Despite being Muslim, Akhtar called himself an "equal opportunity atheist" who is opposed to all religions and raised his children.

Honours and Nominations:

The Indian government first presented Javed with the Padma Shri civilian accolade in 1999, then the Padma Bhushan honor in 2007. For his poetry book Lava, he was given the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu in 2013, India's second-highest literary honor. He received a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from Jamia Hamdard University in 2019. In 2020, he was distinguished as a "powerful force for secularism, reason, and human rights, challenging superstition and intolerance through his work in poetry, screenwriting, and political activism" and was awarded the Richard Dawkins Award.

Conclusion:

Legendary in the Indian film and literary industries is Javed Akhtar. He has received many honors, including the Sahitya Akademi, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan, for his outstanding work as a poet, lyricist, and screenwriter. He co-wrote the scripts for some of the most well-known Hindi movies with Salim Khan, making a lasting impression on Bollywood. Beyond the big screen, Akthar has had a significant influence on Indian writing and poetry, winning awards for both. The Richard Dawkins Award, which he received in recognition of his dedication to secularism and human rights, highlights his significant contribution to dispelling superstition and advancing reason. Indian culture is still being shaped and inspired by Javed Akthar's incredible career.