Farhan Akhtar
Biography
Farhan Akhtar is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer, and television host who works in Hindi films. Born in Mumbai, India, on January 10, 1974, he grew up under the influence of the Hindi film industry as the son of screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. He began his career in Bollywood as an assistant director in the films Lamhe and Himalay Putra. He established the production company Excel Entertainment along with Ritesh Sidhwani and made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai, which received critical acclaim for portraying modern youth and won a National award. He subsequently directed Lakshya and made his Hollywood debut through the soundtrack. He is also known for founding the M.A.R.D. initiative and serving as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
Career overview
Farhan Akhtar is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer, and television host who works in Hindi films. Born in Mumbai to screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, he grew up under the influence of the Hindi film industry. He began his career in Bollywood by working as an assistant director in Lamhe in 1991 and Himalay Putra in 1997.
After establishing a production company named Excel Entertainment along with Ritesh Sidhwani, Akhtar made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. He received critical acclaim for portraying modern youth in the film, which also won a National award. Following that project, he directed Lakshya in 2004. In addition to his filmmaking and directorial work, Akhtar has a background in acting, writing, and singing, and has also served as a television host.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Beatles: John (2028) as Ravi Shankar
- The Beatles: George (2028) as Ravi Shankar
- The Beatles: Paul (2028) as Ravi Shankar
- The Beatles: Ringo (2028) as Ravi Shankar
- Mirzapur: The Movie (2026) Producer
- Dabba Cartel (2025) Executive Producer
- The Roshans (2025) as Self
- Boong (2025) Producer
- Andhera (2025) Executive Producer
- Andhera (2025) Creative Director
- 120 Bahadur (2025) as Major Shaitan Singh
- 120 Bahadur (2025) Producer
- Ground Zero (2025) Producer
- Superboys of Malegaon (2025) Producer
- Songs of Paradise (2025) Producer
- Agni (2024) Producer
- Angry Young Men (2024) as Self
- Angry Young Men (2024) Executive Producer
- Madgaon Express (2024) Producer
- Yudhra (2024) Producer
- Yudhra (2024) Screenplay
- Yudhra (2024) Dialogue
- Yudhra (2024) Story
- Bambai Meri Jaan (2023) Executive Producer
- Dahaad (2023) Executive Producer
- The Archies (2023) as Uncle Ben (voice)
- The Archies (2023) Dialogue
- Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) Producer
- Brand Bollywood Downunder (2023) as Self
- Fukrey 3 (2023) Producer
- Friday Night Plan (2023) Producer
- Ms. Marvel (2022) as Waleed
- Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022) Executive Producer
- Phone Bhoot (2022) Producer
- Sharmaji Namkeen (2022) Producer
- Toofaan (2021) as "Ajju" Aziz Ali
- Toofaan (2021) Producer
- Hello Charlie (2021) Producer
- Made in Heaven (2019) Executive Producer
- Made in Heaven (2019) Creative Director
- Gully Boy (2019) Producer
- The Sky Is Pink (2019) as Niren Chaudhary
- The Fakir of Venice (2019) as Adi
- Mirzapur (2018) Executive Producer
- Mirzapur (2018) Creative Director
- Gold (2018) Producer
- The Drama Company (2017) as Self
- Inside Edge (2017) Producer
- Raees (2017) Producer
- Fukrey Returns (2017) Producer
- Daddy (2017) as Maqsood
- Lucknow Central (2017) as Kishan Mohan Girhotra
- The Kapil Sharma Show (2016) as Self
- BFFs with Vogue (2016) as Self
- Yaaron Ki Baraat (2016) as Self
- Baar Baar Dekho (2016) Producer
- Wazir (2016) as Daanish Ali
- Rock On 2 (2016) as Aditya Shroff
- Rock On 2 (2016) Producer
- Rock On 2 (2016) Dialogue
- Rock On 2 (2016) Playback Singer
- Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) as Sunny Gill
- Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) Producer
- Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) Dialogue
- Bangistan (2015) Producer
- Child Trafficking (2014) as as Self
- Shaadi Ke Side Effects (2014) as Siddharth Roy
- Comedy Nights with Kapil (2013) as Self
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) as Milkha Singh
- Bombay Talkies (2013) as Self, special appearance in "Apna Bombay Talkies" (uncredited)
- Fukrey (2013) Producer
- Making of Talaash (2012) as Self
- Talaash (2012) Dialogue
- Talaash (2012) Producer
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) as Imran Qureshi
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) Producer
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) Dialogue
- Don 2 (2011) Director
- Don 2 (2011) Story
- Don 2 (2011) Producer
- Don 2 (2011) Screenplay
- Up Close & Personal with PZ (2011) as Himself
- Game (2011) Dialogue
- Game (2011) Producer
- Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) as Karthik
- Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) Producer
- Luck by Chance (2009) as Vikram Jaisingh
- Luck by Chance (2009) Producer
- Oye! It's Friday! (2008) as Host
- Rock On!! (2008) as Aditya Shroff
- Rock On!! (2008) Producer
- Rock On!! (2008) Dialogue
- Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007) Producer
- Positive (2007) Director
- Positive (2007) Producer
- Don (2006) Dialogue
- Don (2006) Director
- Don (2006) Story
- Don (2006) Producer
- Indian Idol (2004) as Self
- Koffee with Karan (2004) as Self
- Lakshya (2004) Director
- Lakshya (2004) Producer
- Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (2002) as Himself
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Director
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Story
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Dialogue
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Screenplay
- Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Producer
- Kaun Banega Crorepati (2000) as Self
- Antony Producer
- Lalkaara
- Lalkaara Producer
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 as Imran Qureshi
- Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 Producer
- Don 3 Writer
- Don 3 Producer
- Don 3 Director
- Untitled Omprakash Mehra/Salman Khan Project Producer
- Untitled Saif Ali Khan - Farhan Akhtar Project Producer
- Jee Le Zaraa Writer
- Jee Le Zaraa Director
- Jee Le Zaraa Producer
- Untitled Farhan Akhtar-Neeraj Pandey Movie as R.D Burman
- Boss Collection