Photo: Vikas Tanwar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Javed Akhtar is credited as a screenwriter, writer and poet. Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945 in Khairabad, Sitapur district, India. That works out to 81 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Aligarh Muslim University. Listed accolades include Padma Bhushan (2007), Padma Shri in arts (1999), Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu (2013) and 2 more.
My Take
Javed Akhtar fascinates me because he wears so many hats yet none of them feels like a costume. Screenwriter, poet, lyricist, activist, he has spent over half a century putting words into the mouths of Hindi cinema, and the Padma Bhushan confirms what audiences already knew. As someone who works with language, I find his longevity almost intimidating; staying relevant from the 1970s into the streaming age takes more than talent, it takes a restless mind. What I admire most is that his lyrics live in ordinary people's memories, the truest measure of a writer. He is the rare craftsman whose invisible work shapes a whole culture.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Javed Akhtar
- Name (Japanese)
- ジャヴェド・アクタル
- Reading
- じゃゔぇど・あくたる
- Born
- January 17, 1945 (age 81)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Rooster
- Origin
- Khairabad, Sitapur district, India
- Occupation
- screenwriter / writer / poet / lyricist / songwriter
2. Background
- University
- Aligarh Muslim University
Awards & achievements
- 2007 Padma Bhushan
- 1999 Padma Shri in arts
- 2013 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu
- 2001 National Film Award for Best Lyrics
- 2003 National Film Award for Best Lyrics
- IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://javedakhtar.com
- Xhttps://x.com/javedakhtarjadu
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javed%20Akhtar
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2319562
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Javed Akhtar born?
Born January 17, 1945 (age 81).
Where is Javed Akhtar from?
Javed Akhtar is from Khairabad, Sitapur district, India.
What does Javed Akhtar do?
Javed Akhtar works as screenwriter, writer, poet, lyricist, songwriter.
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