Film Buff. Writer. Director. Producer. Actor. Singer. Talk Show Host. Rock Star. Farhan Akhtar.
With parents like Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, it wasn't long before Farhan turned his attention to Bollywood. He entered Bollywood at the age of 17, assisting directors and cinematographers. He dropped out of college and did various jobs like working for a TV production house and setting up his own production house, Excel Entertainment with childhood friend Ritesh Sidhwani. In a span of four years, he saw numerous movies, especially Die Hard which he saw 25 times.
In 2001, he made his directorial debut with the surprise smash hit: Dil Chahta Hai. He was only 27 then. And the movie about 3 friends and their lives created waves, winning Farhan his first National Award for Best Feature Film. Besides being a fantastic film, DCH was a technically brilliant film. For the first time ever, a Hindi film used sync sound so there was no dubbing involved. Also, the film was shot and completed in four months flat. Farhan was so thorough with his scenes that he knew exactly what he wanted from the actors. For the first time, a lot of attention was paid to the actor's hairstyle, courtesy Farhan's wife, hairdresser Adhuna Akhtar of B: Blunt.
After the feel good Dil Chahta Hai which re-launched Saif Ali Khan's career, Farhan returned with the mature Lakshya in 2004. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta, the film was about the transformation of a youngster from being a clueless moron to a disciplined army man. With brilliant performances from the cast and excellent direction, the film was applauded by the critics but not by masala film loving Indian audiences.
Farhan then took up the daunting task of remaking iconic film Don which his father Javed had written. So he adapted his father's script to make a highly stylized and stylish flick starring Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani and Arjun Rampal. Kareena did the item song Yeh Mera Dil. The film got a mixed response from the critics but the audiences made it a hit.
He also directed a short film on AIDS called Positive and produced Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd in 2007.
Rock On is a phenomenon and a cult film just like Dil Chahta Hai. And Farhan has a lot to do with its success. He produced it, wrote the dialogues for it, acted in it and learnt how to sing the super hit songs. He has an unusual voice and sounds just like his father. Turns out his husky vocals are perfect for Indian rock music. Farhan has won rave reviews for his acting debut and we love the sound of his voice on songs like Rock On and Tum Ho Toh. As part of promotions for Rock On, Magik, comprising Farhan, Arjun, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli has toured the country making crowds groove to their rocking and magical music.
Farhan is currently hosting Oye, It's Friday which is a celeb talk show with a dollop of comedy.
On the personal front, Farhan is married to Adhuna Akhtar and they have two daughters: Shakya and Akira. They live in Bandra Bandstand. He is good friends with the Rock On cast and Shah Rukh Khan.
Farhan will flex his acting muscles in sister Zoya's directorial debut Luck By Chance in which he plays a struggling actor and in Vijay Lalwani's thriller Kartik Calling Kartik with Deepika Padukone.
We wish one of Bollywood's finest, funniest and most intelligent filmmakers a very Happy Birthday.
If You Liked The Posts Say It In comments !!!In 2001, he made his directorial debut with the surprise smash hit: Dil Chahta Hai. He was only 27 then. And the movie about 3 friends and their lives created waves, winning Farhan his first National Award for Best Feature Film. Besides being a fantastic film, DCH was a technically brilliant film. For the first time ever, a Hindi film used sync sound so there was no dubbing involved. Also, the film was shot and completed in four months flat. Farhan was so thorough with his scenes that he knew exactly what he wanted from the actors. For the first time, a lot of attention was paid to the actor's hairstyle, courtesy Farhan's wife, hairdresser Adhuna Akhtar of B: Blunt.
After the feel good Dil Chahta Hai which re-launched Saif Ali Khan's career, Farhan returned with the mature Lakshya in 2004. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta, the film was about the transformation of a youngster from being a clueless moron to a disciplined army man. With brilliant performances from the cast and excellent direction, the film was applauded by the critics but not by masala film loving Indian audiences.
Farhan then took up the daunting task of remaking iconic film Don which his father Javed had written. So he adapted his father's script to make a highly stylized and stylish flick starring Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani and Arjun Rampal. Kareena did the item song Yeh Mera Dil. The film got a mixed response from the critics but the audiences made it a hit.
He also directed a short film on AIDS called Positive and produced Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd in 2007.
Rock On is a phenomenon and a cult film just like Dil Chahta Hai. And Farhan has a lot to do with its success. He produced it, wrote the dialogues for it, acted in it and learnt how to sing the super hit songs. He has an unusual voice and sounds just like his father. Turns out his husky vocals are perfect for Indian rock music. Farhan has won rave reviews for his acting debut and we love the sound of his voice on songs like Rock On and Tum Ho Toh. As part of promotions for Rock On, Magik, comprising Farhan, Arjun, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli has toured the country making crowds groove to their rocking and magical music.
Farhan is currently hosting Oye, It's Friday which is a celeb talk show with a dollop of comedy.
On the personal front, Farhan is married to Adhuna Akhtar and they have two daughters: Shakya and Akira. They live in Bandra Bandstand. He is good friends with the Rock On cast and Shah Rukh Khan.
Farhan will flex his acting muscles in sister Zoya's directorial debut Luck By Chance in which he plays a struggling actor and in Vijay Lalwani's thriller Kartik Calling Kartik with Deepika Padukone.
We wish one of Bollywood's finest, funniest and most intelligent filmmakers a very Happy Birthday.
