Javed Akhtar

Javed Akhtar (born 17 January 1945) is an Indian screenwriter, lyricist, poet, and political activist. Renowned for his extensive work in Hindi cinema, he has won five National Film Awards and sixteen Filmfare Awards. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, two of India's highest civilian honours. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest screenwriters and lyricists in the history of Indian cinema. Akhtar first gained prominence as one half of the screenwriting duo Salim–Javed, alongside Salim Khan. The pair achieved their breakthrough with Zanjeer (1973) and went on to pen several landmark films, including Deewaar (1975) and Sholay (1975). These works achieved cult status and had a lasting influence on Indian popular culture, particularly through their portrayal of the "angry young man" archetype. Following the duo’s split in the early 1980s, Akhtar transitioned into lyric writing, earning acclaim for his poetic and socially conscious lyrics. In addition to his film career, Akhtar has been an outspoken public intellectual and activist, known for his advocacy of secularism, freedom of expression, and gender equality. He has written and spoken extensively on issues of religion, human rights, and rationalism. Akhtar served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2010 to 2016, representing the arts. He also publicly supported the Communist Party of India (CPI) during the 2019 Indian general election. For his contributions to literature, film, and free thought, he became the first Indian to receive the Richard Dawkins Award in 2020. In 2024, Amazon Prime Video released a three-part documentary series titled Angry Young Men, focusing on the partnership between Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. The documentary explores their creative process, personal relationship, and the enduring impact of their films on Indian cinema. In December 2025, Akhtar participated in a public philosophical debate titled Does God Exist? at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, where he discussed questions of faith, morality, and human suffering with Islamic scholar Shamail Nadwi. Approaching the issue from an atheist perspective, Akhtar questioned the idea of divine justice, particularly in the context of civilian suffering in conflict zones. The debate attracted wide media coverage and public discussion in India and abroad.