Javed Akhtar : The Talented and Multi-faceted

Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior. His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and his mother Safia Akhtar was a singer, teacher and writer. His grandfather was a poet. 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.He spent most of his childhood and was schooled in Lucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal.

Akhtar was greatly inspired by Pakistani author Ibn-e-Safi’s Urdu novels, which he grew up reading as a child. He was influenced by their fast action, tight plots, economies of expression, fascinating characters with catchy memorable names, and speaking styles.

Javd Akhtar was at Bombay Central station with just 27 paise in his pockets. Was happy that if can be able to add another paisa to his riches. He will be the winner and life a looser.

With just enough money to either grab a bite or a bus ride. He buyed some gram and started walking. He had got an assignment to write dialogue in another film. He reached the directors’ home with the scenes. He saw the director having pineapple in breakfast as the director takes and reads the scenes. Throwing the papers on his face. The director dismisses Javed by saying “he would never become a writer”.

The Bombay Monsoon was at its worst fury. Sitting under the pale light of a weak lamp on the steps of Khar Station’s portico. And thought people must be sleeping in their homes. His father too ……. To Read Full Interview CLICK HERE