Farhan Akhtar was born on January 9, 1974, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Bollywood actor He is the son of screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. Farhan Akhtar is a multi-talented personality who has made a name for himself in the Indian film industry.
He is an actor, director, screenwriter, dialogue writer, playback singer, lyricist, producer, and television host. Farhan Akhtar is known for his versatility and has won several awards for his work.
Early Life and Upbringing
Farhan Akhtar was born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. His parents, Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, are both screenwriters. Farhan Akhtar has one elder sister, Zoya Akhtar, who is also a film director.
Farhan Akhtar was very young when his parents divorced, and his father married actress Shabana Azmi in 1984. Farhan Akhtar studied at Maneckji Cooper School in Mumbai and then pursued a law degree at HR College, also in Mumbai.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Farhan Akhtar |
| Nickname | Bulbul |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | None |
| Date of Birth | 9 January 1974 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 49 Years |
| Religion | Atheist |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Hometown | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (Settled in Mumbai) |
| Current Address | Sea Spring Bungalow No 1, B J Road, Bandstand, Mumbai – 400050 |
| Education Qualification | High School |
| Hobbies and Interests | Collecting Gadgets, Singing |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Farhan Akhtar |
| IMDb Profile link | Farhan Akhtar |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 41-30-14 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5’9″, 175 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 70 kg, 154 lbs |
| Chest | 41 inches |
| Waist | 30 inches |
| Biceps | 14 inches |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Hairstyle | Short and Spiky |
| Distinctive Features | Chiselled Jawline, Dimpled Smile |
| Tattoos | Dolphin/Shark on his right shoulder |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Farhan Akhtar’s personal life has been as eventful as his professional journey. In 2000, he married Adhuna Bhabani, and together they have two daughters named Shakya and Akira.
However, after 16 years of marriage, the couple announced their separation in 2016. Since 2018, Farhan Akhtar has been in a relationship with Indian VJ Shibani Dandekar.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Shibani Dandekar (m. February 2022-present) |
| Father | Javed Akhtar (Lyricist and Scriptwriter) |
| Mother | Honey Irani (Actress & Screenwriter, Farhan’s mother by birth), Shabana Azmi (Stepmother) |
| Children | Shakya (Daughter), Akira (Daughter) |
| Siblings | Zoya Akhtar (Elder Sister, Director & Screenwriter) |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | Adhuna Bhabani (Hair Stylist, Ex-wife), Shibani Dandekar (Actress, VJ, Wife) |
| Significant Relationships | None |
Rise to Stardom
Farhan Akhtar made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age comedy-drama Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. The film won the National Award for Best Hindi Film and the Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics). Following this, he directed the cult war film Lakshya (2004) and made his Hollywood debut through the soundtrack of Bride and Prejudice (2004), for which he and sister Zoya Akhtar served as lyricists.
Next came the commercially successful Don (2006), his third directorial venture, post which he directed a short film titled Positive (2007) to spread awareness on HIV-AIDS. Although he initiated his acting career with a delayed release in the drama The Fakir of Venice, Akhtar’s official screen debut came with the musical drama Rock On!! (2008) for which he won a second National Film Award for Best Hindi Film as producer and the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance.
He wrote the dialogues and produced for the critically and commercially successful buddy-road film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor; the same year, he directed a sequel to Don titled Don 2 (2011), which remains his highest-grossing film till date. Akhtar then played Milkha Singh in the biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Later, he received praise for starring in the ensemble family comedy-drama Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) and the crime thriller Wazir (2016). He has since headlined the dramas Lucknow Central (2017), The Sky Is Pink (2019) and Toofaan (2021).
Farhan Akhtar – Debut Film – Rock On (2008)
Farhan Akhtar – Successful Film – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Farhan Akhtar’s career is adorned with numerous awards and achievements. His portrayal of the legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh in the biopic “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
He also received widespread praise and numerous accolades for his work in “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. His sequel to “Don”, titled “Don 2”, remains his highest-grossing film to date.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Singer |
| Debut Film | Dil Chahta Hai (2001, as Director), Rock On!! (2008, as Actor) |
| Notable Roles | Aditya Shroff in Rock On!!, Karthik Narayan in Karthik Calling Karthik, Imraan Qureshi in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Sunny Gill in Dil Dhadakne Do, Danish Ali in Wazir, Aziz Ali/Toofaan in Toofan |
| Recent Films – New Movies | The Sky Is Pink (2019), Toofaan (2021) |
| Upcoming Films | Jee Le Zaraa (2023, as Director and Actor) |
| Popular Television Series | Oye! It’s Friday! (2008-2009, as Host), I Can Do That (2015, as Host) |
| Awards and Achievements | Four Filmfare Awards, Two National Film Awards, Six IIFA Awards, Six Screen Awards, Three Zee Cine Awards, Two Stardust Awards, One GQ Men of the Year Award |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Titan, Dulux Paints, Intex, Hindustan Unilever, Chivas Regal, Britannia NutriChoice, Dabur, VIP Skybags, IndusInd Bank, Lenovo |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination), UN Women, Magic Bus, Akshara Centre, Being Human |
| Professional Associations | Excel Entertainment (Co-founder and Co-owner), Farhan Akhtar Live (Founder and Lead Singer) |
| Training and Education | N/A |
| Production Company | Excel Entertainment |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Dil Chahta Hai, Don, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Don 2, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Dil Dhadakne Do |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Rock On!!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Wazir, The Sky Is Pink |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 140 Crores ($22 Million) |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 10 Crore ($1.3 Million) |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 1-2 Crore ($0.13-0.26 Million) |
| Sponsorship Deals | Titan, Dulux Paints, Intex, Hindustan Unilever, Chivas Regal, Britannia NutriChoice, Dabur, VIP Skybags, IndusInd Bank, Lenovo |
| Business Ventures | Excel Entertainment, Farhan Akhtar Live |
| Investments | N/A |
| Real Estate Holdings | Sea Spring Bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | N/A |
| Cars Collection | Range Rover Red Edition, M350 CDI SUV, Porsche Cayman, Honda CRV |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Woody Allen, Billy Wilder |
| Favorite Actress | Preity Zinta |
| Favorite Film | The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
| Favorite Music Bands | The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Coldplay |
| Favorite Sport | Football, Tennis |
| Favorite Books | Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger |
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Homemade food, The classic Mumbai Vada Pav, Kebabs, Mutton Biryani |
| Things s/he like | Traveling, Adventure Sports, Poetry |
| Things s/he dislike | Hypocrisy, Dishonesty |
Top 5 Best Films – Farhan Akhtar
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Bhaag Milkha Bhaag | 2013 | Milkha Singh |
| Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | 2011 | Imran Qureshi |
| Rock On!! | 2008 | Aditya Shroff |
| Dil Dhadakne Do | 2015 | Sunny Gill |
| Wazir | 2016 | Daanish Ali |
Controversies – Farhan Akhtar
- Farhan Akhtar was at the center of a controversy when he used a drive-in facility to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
- He was involved in the Hrithik-Kangana controversy, where he weighed in on the issue.
- Farhan faced backlash for a tweet he made on a controversial issue involving BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
- He was accused of getting unfair access to a drive-in vaccine center due to his celebrity status.
- Farhan was criticized for a derogatory statement he tweeted on a recent controversial issue.
Interesting Facts – Farhan Akhtar
- Farhan Akhtar is a college dropout. He left college in his 2nd year of graduation to start his career in Bollywood.
- Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, real siblings, are both directors.
- Director Farah Khan and choreographer Sajid Khan are his cousins.
- Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar made their own production house called Excel Entertainment.
- In 2012, Farhan founded MARD (Men Against Rape & Discrimination), an initiative that raises awareness about gender equality.
- Farhan Akhtar is a talented musician. He has lent his soulful voice to various songs in Bollywood films and has also released his own music albums.
In conclusion, Farhan Akhtar’s journey in Bollywood is a testament to his multifaceted talent and relentless pursuit of excellence. His contributions to Indian cinema, both as an actor and a filmmaker, have left an indelible mark on the industry.
His story continues to inspire millions of aspiring artists around the world.
