Dinesh jain
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It was on this day 50 years ago that Javed
Akhtar had stepped foot in Mumbai from
Gwalior to pursue his creative dreams.
The now acclaimed lyricist and writer recently
participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
'Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' on Gandhi Jayanti
Thursday at the Mumbai Central station to
sweep the platforms.
Speaking of the experience, Javed said: "It is
always a pleasure to be part of any campaign
for a better nation. And Narendra Modiji's
'Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' was definitely a
wonderful idea. I happily supported it."
Pointing out at a significant personal historical
link of his past to the clean-India campaign, he
said: "It was 50 years ago on Oct 4, 1964 that
I left my hometown Gwalior to reach Mumbai
by a train that took me to Mumbai Central. And
now, just two days short of the day, I had
arrived in Mumbai 50 years ago I was the same
place as part of a clean-Indian campaign."
He feels the turnout could have been better in
support of the clean India campaign.
"We talk of a clean Indian, corruption-free
India. But we can't even keep the road in front
of our homes clean. We say, 'Let the
government do it.' Why must the government
be expected to do everything? Don't we as
responsible citizens have a responsibility
towards society?"
He feels it's time to take matters into our own
hands.
"It's time we realised that we are the
government. No on else is going to do it for
us. We see big shiny malls with dirt and filth
right outside it. We only talk about change. But
we don't want to do anything to bring a
change," he said.
Born to Jan Nisar Akhtar, an Urdu poet and a
Bollywood lyricist and Safia Akhtar, a teacher
and writer, Javed's tryst with the world of
words was as though predestined.
The 69-year-old got his first break in
"Yakeen" (1969), and since then, he has been
credited with a slew of songs, scripts and
poems, which have been highly appreciated.
As a scriptwriter, his erstwhile partnership with
Salim Khan, gave the Hindi film industry,
movies like "Zanjeer", "Deewar", "Sholay",
"Haathi Mere Saathi", "Seeta Aur Geeta" and
"Trishul".
Some of his best works came out as a
songwriter. He penned lyrics for "Saaz" for
which he won the 1996 Best Lyricist National
Award. He also bagged the National Award for
"Border" (1997), "Godmother" (1998),
"Refugee" (2001) and "Lagaan" (2002). His
soul-stirring lyrics, he won Filmfare awards for
"1942 A Love Story" (1995), "Border" (1998),
"Refugee" (2001), "Lagaan" (2002), "Kal Ho Na
Ho" (2004) and "Veer Zaara" (2005).
In his personal life, the creative expert had
first married Honey Irani, a scriptwriter for
Hindi films. With her, he has two kids - actor-
filmmaker Farhan and Zoya, who is a
filmmaker.
After ending his marriage with Honey, Javed
married actress Shabana Azmi in 1984.
Javed's first collection of Urdu poetry,
"Tarkash" came out in 1995.
His work and contribution to the literary was
lauded with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the
Padma Bhushan in 2007.
Javed Akhtar clocks 50 years since stepping into Mumbai
Akhtar had stepped foot in Mumbai from
Gwalior to pursue his creative dreams.
The now acclaimed lyricist and writer recently
participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
'Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' on Gandhi Jayanti
Thursday at the Mumbai Central station to
sweep the platforms.
Speaking of the experience, Javed said: "It is
always a pleasure to be part of any campaign
for a better nation. And Narendra Modiji's
'Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' was definitely a
wonderful idea. I happily supported it."
Pointing out at a significant personal historical
link of his past to the clean-India campaign, he
said: "It was 50 years ago on Oct 4, 1964 that
I left my hometown Gwalior to reach Mumbai
by a train that took me to Mumbai Central. And
now, just two days short of the day, I had
arrived in Mumbai 50 years ago I was the same
place as part of a clean-Indian campaign."
He feels the turnout could have been better in
support of the clean India campaign.
"We talk of a clean Indian, corruption-free
India. But we can't even keep the road in front
of our homes clean. We say, 'Let the
government do it.' Why must the government
be expected to do everything? Don't we as
responsible citizens have a responsibility
towards society?"
He feels it's time to take matters into our own
hands.
"It's time we realised that we are the
government. No on else is going to do it for
us. We see big shiny malls with dirt and filth
right outside it. We only talk about change. But
we don't want to do anything to bring a
change," he said.
Born to Jan Nisar Akhtar, an Urdu poet and a
Bollywood lyricist and Safia Akhtar, a teacher
and writer, Javed's tryst with the world of
words was as though predestined.
The 69-year-old got his first break in
"Yakeen" (1969), and since then, he has been
credited with a slew of songs, scripts and
poems, which have been highly appreciated.
As a scriptwriter, his erstwhile partnership with
Salim Khan, gave the Hindi film industry,
movies like "Zanjeer", "Deewar", "Sholay",
"Haathi Mere Saathi", "Seeta Aur Geeta" and
"Trishul".
Some of his best works came out as a
songwriter. He penned lyrics for "Saaz" for
which he won the 1996 Best Lyricist National
Award. He also bagged the National Award for
"Border" (1997), "Godmother" (1998),
"Refugee" (2001) and "Lagaan" (2002). His
soul-stirring lyrics, he won Filmfare awards for
"1942 A Love Story" (1995), "Border" (1998),
"Refugee" (2001), "Lagaan" (2002), "Kal Ho Na
Ho" (2004) and "Veer Zaara" (2005).
In his personal life, the creative expert had
first married Honey Irani, a scriptwriter for
Hindi films. With her, he has two kids - actor-
filmmaker Farhan and Zoya, who is a
filmmaker.
After ending his marriage with Honey, Javed
married actress Shabana Azmi in 1984.
Javed's first collection of Urdu poetry,
"Tarkash" came out in 1995.
His work and contribution to the literary was
lauded with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the
Padma Bhushan in 2007.
Javed Akhtar clocks 50 years since stepping into Mumbai
