The magician of words Javed Akhtar started his career as a clapper boy in Bollywood, before becoming the famous poet, writer, screenwriter, and lyricist. Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945, in Gwalior.
His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, a famous poet, and Mother Safia Akhtar were the famous Urdu writer. The skill of writing was inherited by Javed. Since childhood, Javed found an atmosphere in the house in which he had a good knowledge of poems and music.
In his childhood, Javed’s parents affectionately called him ‘jaadu’. This name was taken from a line of poetry written by his father “Lamha Lamha…Kisi jaadu ka faasana hoga”. He was later given the name Javed.
Javed’s life underwent a major change when the mother died in her childhood. His father then married another women. Javed then began to live with his grandfather and later with his khala.
In the year 1964, he came to Mumbai to seek work and create a distinct identity. In the early stages, Javed spent life in great difficulties. He had no whereabouts to live, or to eat. But Javed did not give up on the circumstances.
Javed Akhtar started his career with ‘Sarhadi Lootera’. Salim Khan was the hero in the film and Javed was a clapper, Boy. The two then became friends and became famously known as Salim-Javed’s pair.
Javed Akhtar with Salim was iconic
The two together wrote scripts of several super-hit films for Hindi cinema. The duo gave 24 films during the year 1971-1982, including Sita and Gita, Sholay, Haathi mere Saathi, Yaadon Ki Barat, Deewar, etc. After the film ‘ Mr. India ‘ in the year 1987, Salim-Javed’s superhit pair separated.
Javed Akhtar continued to write dialogue for films. Javed in meantime also wrote superhit songs for films including Ek ladki ko dekha (1942 a love story), Ghar Se Nikalte hi (papa kehte hai), sandeshe aate hai(border), Radha kaise na jale(Lagaan), etc.
Javed Akhtar had two marriages. His first wife was Honey Irani. And Farhan Akhtar & Joya Akhtar, both of them are children from this first marriage of his. Farahn and Zoya are eminent actors, director-producers in Hindi cinema.
After divorcing honey Irani, Javed had a second marriage to Shabana Azmi in 1984.
Javed Akhtar was conferred with Padamshree in the year 1999 in view of his valuable contribution to the world of literature. Then in 2007, he was honored with Padam Bhushan Samman by the government of India.
