Biography of Javed Akhtar

(Born: 17 January 1945, Gwalior)

Javed Akhtar is perhaps the most well-known name among the contemporary poets. He is one of the architects of Indian pop culture and a brilliant representative of today's culture. Javed Akhtar has carved an identity of his own in the fields of poetry, film and social activism.

Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a major progressive poet and his mother, Safia Akhtar, was a noteworthy writer herself.

He began writing poetry late in life. Yet in a short span of time, he has carved out a niche for himself among the modern Urdu poets. He writes poems on subjects like petty crimes, starvation, homelessness, and riots, etc., which are commonplace in Indian cities.

As a lyricist, he is the highest-paid and most respected in India. Apart from the well-known Filmfare awards, he has also won the National Award as the best lyricist for three years in succession. He is also the recipient of the Padma Shri.