Yes, of course, I’m talking about The Great FARHAN AKHTAR !!
Our beloved Actor, WAIT NO, Singer, NO NO, Producer, WAIT A MINUTE, Director? Yes, Ladies and gentlemen, this multifaceted personality is none other than Farhan Akhtar, who today celebrates his 42nd Birthday. Pardon me if I missed something on the list like the other roles he plays behind the sets – screenwriter, editor, lyricist, and social activist.
Rock ON, Zindagi na Milegi Dobara, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag were films that got the 42-year old actor national acclaim. But so did Dil Chahta Hai, Don, Talaash, Fukrey, and Don 2, but yaa, then you may ask, “Didn’t these films star Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, and a bunch of other newbies?” Indeed, but Farhan, this time, operated from behind the camera carrying out the production and direction of these Super Hit films.
10 things that every die-hard Farhan Akhtar fan must know:
10.”Arre O Samba! Kitna inaam rakhi hai sarkar hum pe? Poore Pachass Hazaar … “
If Farhan collected 1000 bucks for every time, he watched Sholay, and he’d have by now collected the notorious amount of “Pachass Hazaar.” For those of us who are weak in math, Farhan has watched the film a total of 50 times. And still, he doesn’t find it perfect!
9.MARD ko Dard nahi hota !
Men Against Rape and Discrimination or MARD/M.A.R.D is a 2013 social campaign launched by director-actor Farhan Akhtar to raise social awareness against rape and discrimination against women. Farhan tweeted about the campaign: “If you are a man who respects women… her rights, her dignity, her independence, her mind, her body, her life… you are a #MARD. “
8.Wake up, Farhan!
When his mother threatened to throw him out of the house for doing nothing in the house other than watching films, Farhan concocted ‘Dil Chahta Hai.’ Akhtar had written the script based on his trips to Goa and New York and a narration of a story outlined by a friend of his. He was credited for starting a “new wave” in Indian cinema.
7.Don’t Rang me Basanti!
Before Aamir Khan, Farhan was approached with the offer to play the famed fun-loving patriot “DJ.” Sadly, Farhan turned it down. He marks it as his biggest regret.
6.”Oye Milkheya !”
With ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,’ the 42-year old established his strong all-rounder quality in the industry. The biopic brought the real and reel Flying Sikhs together in mutual admiration and strengthened their bond. ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ was a phenomenal hit grossing $15 million worldwide.
5.La Cucaracha !!
After doing most of his stunts on his own in his recent film ‘Wazir,’ the director-actor-singer-writer expresses a major phobia of cockroaches. He also says he wants to overcome this one day.
“Hum honge kamyaab Farhan !” 😉
4.Humaari Parampara!
The distinguished actor hails from a family of creative geniuses with lyricist father Javed Akhtar, screenwriter Honey Irani, director-sister Zoya Akhtar, renowned hairstylist wife Adhuna second-mother the legendary actress Shabana Azmi. He is also blessed with two daughters Shakya and Akira, who carry on the Akhtar-gene.
3.Yeh Dosti Hum nahi Todenge !
Friendships have played a pivotal role in his films, starting from Dil Chahta Hai to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara to Fukrey. According to the actor, his friends supported him during the tough time when his parents Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, divorced in 1978. Riteish Sidhwani, who is also his business partner and his closest buddy, was always with him through the ups and downs of his life. Together they created Excel Entertainment in 1999 and have gone on to create several films under Excel’s banner.
2.It takes time to brew a Genius!
Farhan had his mother sent into a frenzy when he failed in every subject in school. He then took admission in HR college and did a law course but was dismissed in the second year due to short attendance. He, in fact, spent two years just watching films, day in and day out, on VHS. He called it his film school course for two years.
1.Positive!
In 2007, Farhan Akhtar directed ‘Positive,’ a film produced by Shernaz Italia and Frenzy Kodaiji, starring Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi. It was a short film running for 12 minutes. Dealing with a family’s attitude towards a person suffering from HIV-AIDS, the film was shot in Mumbai and created awareness about the problem. Akhtar stated the film’s purpose as “Just as a social stigma, many people believe that an HIV patient should be isolated. They also have certain misconceptions about dealing with the disease.” It was a part of the ‘AIDS JaaGo’ (‘AIDS Awake’) series, a series of four short films.
A Special Mention :
During all this, how could we possibly overlook his deep, heavy, husky voice, which has made us all swoon into the songs of Rock On, dance on Senorita, draw inspiration from the intermittent poems in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and stuck us petrified in Karthik calling Karthik? The voice that one can pick up on any antenna! The voice that makes Women want him and Men want to be him!
Wishing him a marvelous year ahead and all the success for his upcoming film ‘Wazir.’
Thank you for keeping us entertained, Farhan!
We all wish you a very Happy Birthday!!!
