Javed Akhtar

Poet, Scriptwriter, and Lyricist
Javed Akhtar is a renowned poet, scriptwriter, and lyricist. Son of well-known Urdu poet and film lyricist Jan Nisar Akhtar and Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer, Javed belongs to a family lineage that can be traced back to seven generations of writers.

Javed 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.
Javed became one of the best-known scriptwriters during the 1970s and 80s. Some of his best works include, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, ‘Don’, ‘Trishul’, ‘Sagar’, ‘Mr. India’, ‘Betaab’, ‘Arjun’ and ‘Lakshya’.

Javed is also a respected social commentator and activist. He has written several poems against communalism and social injustice and for National Integration and Women’s Rights. The Ministry of Human Resource Development declared his song, beckoning the misguided youth to come forward and build the country, the National Anthem for Youth in 1995.

He was awarded the civilian honor of Padma Shri in 1999, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2007. He has received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for his poetry collection ‘Lava’ and also won several National Film Awards for his contributions to the film industry. Javed has been given Hon. Doctorate from Pondicherry University – Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) 2010.

Javed Akhtar has been Nominated to Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament by the President of India 2010. He was the leading force behind the recently passed Copyright Amendment bill that restores dignity to lyrics and music composers and gives them what is rightfully theirs in terms of royalty.

A highly respected writer and social commentator Javed Akhtar is admired for his secular, liberal and progressive values.