Javed Akhtar

For the Pakistani cricketer, see Javed Akhtar (cricketer).
Javed Akhtar
Born (1945-01-17) 17 January 1945
Gwalior, Central India Agency, British India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Poet, lyricist, scriptwriter
Spouse(s)
Children Zoya Akhtar
Farhan Akhtar

Javed Akhtar (Hindi: जावेद अख़्तर, Urdu: جاوید اختر) born 17 January 1945) is a poet, lyricist and scriptwriter from India. Akhtar is a mainstream writer and some of his most successful work was carried out with Salim Khan as half of the script-writing duo credited as Salim-Javed between 1971 to 1982. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007),[1] the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as thirteen Filmfare Awards.

Early life

Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior.[2] His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and his mother Safia Akhtar was a singer, teacher and writer.[3][4] 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.[5] 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.[6] He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal.[7]

Career (1971–1982)

Main article: Salim-Javed

Salim met Javed Akhthar for the first time during the making of the film Sarhadi Lootera. Salim was a small-time actor, and Sarhadi Lootera was one of the last films he acted in before he turned his attention to writing. Javed was a clapper boy for the film and was later made the dialogue writer as director S.M. Sagar was unable to find a dialogue writer. While working in this film their friendship began. Salim Khan used to assist writer/director Abrar Alvi at first and Javed Akhtar used to assist Kaifi Azmi. Abrar Alvi and Kaifi Azmi were neighbours, from there on Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar became friends. The duo hit it off well and formed a script-writing team that came to be known as Salim-Javed. Salim used to form stories and plots whereas Javed used to help Salim with the dialogues for those films. They used to brainstorm and come to conclusions regarding the final draft of the film.Akhtar used to write his scripts in Urdu, which were then written out in Hindi by his assistant. Another assistant would type out a one-line summary in English. His association with Salim Khan lasted until 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 title. 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.[8] Javed Akhtar accepted 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."[9] Salim-Javed were hired by G. P. Sippy's Sippy Films as resident screenwriters and produced the screenplays for successful films like Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay and Don.

Their first big success was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi andSeeta Aur Geeta (1972). They also had hits in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Zanjeer (1973), Haath Ki Safai (1974), Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Premada Kaanike, Chacha Bhatija (1977), Don (1978), Trishul (1978), Manushulu Chesina Dongalu, Yugandhar, Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Zamana (1985) and Mr. India (1987). They have worked together in 25 films including 2 Telugu films – Manushulu Chesina Dongalu, Yugandhar and two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 25 films they wrote 21 were hits. The scripts they wrote but which were not successful at box office include Aakhri Dao (1975), Immaan Dharam (1977), Kaala Patthar (1979),Shaan (1980). Though they split in 1982, due to ego issues, some of the scripts they wrote were made into hit films later like Zamana and Mr. India. Salim-Javed, many a time described as "the most successful scriptwriters of all-time",[10] are also noted to be the first scriptwriters in Indian cinema to achieve star status.[11]

Career (1982–present)

Akhtar was nominated to the Parliament upper house Rajya Sabha on 16 November 2009.[12]

Personal life

"There are certain things that I would like to make very clear at the very outset. Don't get carried away by my name – Javed Akhtar. I am not revealing a secret, I am saying something that I have said many times, in writing or on TV, in public…I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs. And obviously I don't believe in spirituality of some kind."

—Akhtar talking about his religious beliefs.[13]

Akhtar was a Muslim[14] but later became atheist.[15][16] He has brought up his children Farhan and Zoya Akhtar also as atheists.[17]

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.[18]

Javed divorced Irani and later married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of another Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi[19]

Awards

Akhthar was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2007.[1] In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava.[20]

Filmography

As scriptwriter

Teamed as Salim-Javed
Year Film Language Director Cast Notes
1971 Andaz Hindi Ramesh Sippy Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Shammi Kapoor, Simi Garewal Written as "Salim-Javed"
1971 Adhikar Hindi S.M. Sagar Ashok Kumar, Nanda, Deb Mukherjee Written as "Salim-Javed"
1971 Haathi Mere Saathi Hindi M. A. Thirumugham Rajesh Khanna, Tanuja Written as "Salim-Javed"
1972 Seeta Aur Geeta Hindi Ramesh Sippy Hema Malini, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar Written as "Salim-Javed"
1973 Yaadon Ki Baaraat Hindi Nasir Hussain Dharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq Khan Written as "Salim-Javed"
1973 Zanjeer Hindi Prakash Mehra Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Pran Written as "Salim-Javed"
1974 Majboor Hindi Ravi Tandon Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, Pran Written as "Salim-Javed"
1974 Haath Ki Safai Hindi Prakash Mehra Randhir Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Hema Malini, Simi Garewal, RanjeetWritten as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Deewaar Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh Written as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Sholay Hindi Ramesh Sippy Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri Written as "Salim-Javed"
1975 Aakhri Dao Hindi A. Salaam Jeetendra, Saira Banu, Danny Denzongpa Written as "Salim-Javed"
1976 Premada Kanike Kannada V. Somashekhar Rajkumar, Aarathi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1976 Raja Nanna Raja Kannada A. V. Seshagiri Rao Rajkumar, Aarathi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1977 Immaan Dharam Hindi Desh Mukherjee Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Rekha Written as "Salim-Javed"
1977 Chacha Bhatija Hindi Manmohan Desai Dharmendra, Randhir Kapoor, Hema Malini Written as "Salim-Javed"
1978 Trishul Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini Written as "Salim-Javed"
1978 Don Hindi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1979 Kaala Patthar Hindi Yash Chopra Amitabh Bachchan Written as "Salim-Javed"
1980 Dostana Hindi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1980 Shaan Hindi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1981 Kranti Hindi Written as "Salim-Javed"
1982 Shakti Hindi Ramesh Sippy Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Anil Kapoor Written as "Salim-Javed"
1985 Zamana Hindi Ramesh Talwar Rajesh Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Ranjeeta Kaur Written as "Salim-Javed"
1987 Mr. India Hindi Shekhar Kapur Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish Puri Written as "Salim-Javed"
As Javed Akhtar
Year Film Language Director Cast Notes
1983 Betaab Hindi Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Amrita Singh Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1984 Duniya Hindi Ramesh Talwar Dilip Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita Singh Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1984 Mashaal Hindi Yash Chopra Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Saagar Hindi Ramesh Sippy Rishi Kapoor, Kamal Haasan Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Arjun Hindi Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Dimple Kapadia Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1985 Meri Jung Hindi Subhash Ghai Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1987 Dacait Hindi Rahul Rawail Sunny Deol, Raakhee Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1989 Main Azaad Hoon Hindi Tinnu Anand Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi Written as "Javed Akhtar"
1993 Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja Hindi Satish Kaushik Anil Kapoor, Sridevi Written as "Javed Akhtar"
2004 Lakshya Hindi Farhan Akhtar Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta Written as "Javed Akhtar"
2006 Don: The Chase Begins Again Hindi Farhan Akhtar Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra Written as "Javed Akhtar"

As lyricist

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  2. Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ed. (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  3. http://www.poemhunter.com/javed-akhtar/biography/
  4. http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/on-fathers-day-javed-akhtar-recalls-the-man-who-taught-him-poetry/article6117318.ece
  5. http://www.urdushayari.in/2011/11/muztar-khairabadi.html
  6. Chopra, Anupama (2000). Sholay: The Making of a Classic. Penguin Books India. p. 16. ISBN 0-14-02997-0X.
  7. David John Matthews, ed. (2001). Quiver: Poems and Ghazals. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-437-9.
  8. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-19/news-interviews/32731341_1_rajesh-khanna-consecutive-solo-superhits-record-in-indian-film
  9. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/3718/
  10. Sholay, through the eyes of Salim Khan, ,Rediff.com
  11. Ramesh Dawar (2003), Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema, Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd.
  12. "Javed Akhtar, Dua nominated to Rajya Sabha – India – DNA". Dnaindia.com. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  13. "Eye on England". Telegraphindia.com. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  14. Shivam, Vij (16 March 2016). "What Javed Akhtar Is Missing When He Attacks Owaisi". HP Desk. The Huffington Post (India). Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  15. "Being: Javed Akhtar on the angry young man – Movies News – IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  16. His bias and hatred towards right wing organization is displayed in most of his interviews or articles. "Spirituality, Halo or Hoax". Javedakhtar.com. 26 February 2005. There are certain things that I would like to make very clear at the very outset. Don't get carried away by my name – Javed Akhtar. I am not revealing a secret, I am saying something that I have said many times, in writing or on TV, in public…I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs. And obviously I don't believe in spirituality of some kind. Some kind.
  17. "10 Self-Proclaimed Celebrity Atheists | Entertainment | iDiva.com | Page 4". iDiva.com. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  18. "Transcript of the Javed Akhtar Chat". rediff.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  19. "Honey Irani on Divorce, Survival & Shabana Azmi". iDiva.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  20. "Poets dominate Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013". Sahitya Akademi. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.

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