Javed Akhtar

Updated: October 21, 2026

Birth Name: Jadoo (officially named Javed Akhtar)
Date of Birth: 17 January 1945
Age: 81
Origin: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
Gender: Male
Height (cm): 165
Religion: Atheist (raised Muslim)
Nationality: Indian
Wife: Honey Irani (1972 to 1985), Shabana Azmi (married 1984)
Parents: Jan Nisar Akhtar (father, poet and lyricist), Safia Akhtar (mother, writer and teacher)
Siblings: Salman Akhtar (younger brother)
Children: Farhan Akhtar (son), Zoya Akhtar (daughter)
Occupation: Lyricist, poet, screenwriter, political activist
Genres: Urdu poetry, Hindi film lyrics, screenwriting

Biography & Career:
Javed Akhtar is one of the most influential writers in Indian cinema, a poet, lyricist and screenwriter whose words have shaped Bollywood for more than five decades. Born into a family with generations of Urdu writers behind it, the future poet grew up with a celebrated father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, an Urdu poet and film lyricist, while the mother, Safia Akhtar, was a writer and teacher. The childhood name was Jadoo, taken from a line in a poem, and Javed was later chosen as the closest official match. Younger brother Salman Akhtar became a respected psychoanalyst and poet, while no sister has ever been part of public life.

Education began at a well-known school in Lucknow, continued in Aligarh and ended with a degree from Saifiya College in Bhopal. In 1964 the young writer arrived in Mumbai with almost nothing and soon teamed up with Salim Khan. Together the duo wrote Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay, films that changed Hindi cinema forever. Later, the songs written for films from the 1980s onward made the lyricist just as famous, bringing five National Film Awards, the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan. Published collections of poetry and books of conversations reached readers far beyond the film world, and age has done nothing to slow the pen, with every literature festival appearance still drawing packed audiences.

From 2010 to 2016 the writer served in the Rajya Sabha as a nominated member for the arts, a seat that came without any political party affiliation. On the question of religion, the position is clear: raised in a Muslim household, Javed Akhtar describes himself as an atheist and brought up both children the same way.

The first marriage, to screenwriter Honey Irani, gave the family two famous filmmakers. The son name is Farhan Akhtar, an actor, director and producer, and the daughter name is Zoya Akhtar, an acclaimed writer and director. Son Farhan has also collaborated with the lyricist on several hit films. Since 1984, the wife name best known to fans is Shabana Azmi, the celebrated actress and daughter of poet Kaifi Azmi.

Javed Akhtar Books:
Tarkash
Lava
Quiver
Talking Songs
In Other Words

Javed Akhtar Best Songs:
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga
Ek Do Teen
Ghar Se Nikalte Hi
Sandese Aate Hai
Panchhi Nadiya Pawan Ke Jhonke
Radha Kaise Na Jale
Dil Chahta Hai
Kal Ho Naa Ho
Yeh Tara Woh Tara
Mitwa