Farhan Akhtar (born 10 January 1974) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer and television host. Born in Mumbai to screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, he grew up under the influence of the Hindi film industry. He began his career in Bollywood by working as an assistant director in Lamhe (1991) and Himalay Putra (1997). Akhtar, after establishing a production company named Excel Entertainment along with Ritesh Sidhwani, made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and received critical acclaim for portraying modern youth. The film also won a National award. Following it, he made Lakshya (2004) and had his Hollywood debut through the soundtrack of Bride and Prejudice (2004), for which he wrote the lyrics. He went on to make the commercially successful Don (2006). He directed a short film titled Positive (2007), to spread awareness on HIV-AIDS.

Filmography

• 2028The Beatles: George — Ravi Shankar
• 2028The Beatles: John — Ravi Shankar
• 2028The Beatles: Paul — Ravi Shankar
• 2028The Beatles: Ringo — Ravi Shankar
• 2026Mirzapur: The Movie — Producer
• 2025120 Bahadur — Major Shaitan Singh, Producer
• Andhera — Executive Producer, Creative Director
• 2025Boong — Producer
• Dabba Cartel — Executive Producer
• 2025Ground Zero — Producer
• 2025Songs of Paradise — Producer
• 2025Superboys of Malegaon — Producer
• 2024Agni — Producer
• Angry Young Men — Self, Executive Producer
• 2024Madgaon Express — Producer
• 2024Yudhra — Producer, Dialogue, Story, Screenplay
• Bambai Meri Jaan — Executive Producer
• Dahaad — Executive Producer
• 2023Friday Night Plan — Producer
• 2023Fukrey 3 — Producer
• 2023Kho Gaye Hum Kahan — Producer
• 2023The Archies — Uncle Ben (voice), Dialogue
• Eternally Confused and Eager for Love — Executive Producer
• Ms. Marvel — Waleed
• 2022Phone Bhoot — Producer
• 2022Sharmaji Namkeen — Producer
• 2021Hello Charlie — Producer
• 2021Toofaan — "Ajju" Aziz Ali, Producer
• 2019Gully Boy — Producer
• Made in Heaven — Executive Producer, Creative Director
• 2019The Fakir of Venice — Adi
• 2019The Sky Is Pink — Niren Chaudhary
• 2018Gold — Producer
• Mirzapur — Executive Producer, Creative Director
• 2017Daddy — Maqsood
• 2017Fukrey Returns — Producer
• Inside Edge — Producer
• 2017Lucknow Central — Kishan Mohan Girhotra
• 2017Raees — Producer
• 2016Baar Baar Dekho — Producer
• 2016Rock On 2 — Aditya Shroff, Producer, Dialogue, Playback Singer
• 2016Wazir — Daanish Ali
• 2015Bangistan — Producer
• 2015Dil Dhadakne Do — Sunny Gill, Producer, Dialogue
• 2014Child Trafficking — as Self
• 2014Shaadi Ke Side Effects — Siddharth Roy
• 2013Bhaag Milkha Bhaag — Milkha Singh
• 2013Bombay Talkies — Self, special appearance in "Apna Bombay Talkies" (uncredited)
• 2013Fukrey — Producer
• 2012Talaash — Dialogue, Producer
• 2011Don 2 — Director, Producer, Story, Screenplay
• 2011Game — Dialogue, Producer
• 2011Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara — Imran Qureshi, Producer, Dialogue
• 2010Karthik Calling Karthik — Karthik, Producer
• 2009Luck by Chance — Vikram Jaisingh, Producer
• Oye! It's Friday! — Host
• 2008Rock On!! — Aditya Shroff, Producer, Dialogue
• 2007Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. — Producer
• 2007Positive — Director, Producer
• 2006Don — Director, Dialogue, Producer, Story
• 2004Lakshya — Director, Producer
• 2001Dil Chahta Hai — Director, Producer, Story, Dialogue, Screenplay
• Antony — Producer
• Boss Collection
• Don 3 — Producer, Writer, Director
• Jee Le Zaraa — Director, Writer, Producer
• Kanika Dhillon's Directorial Debut Film — Producer
• Karna — Producer
• Lalkaara — Producer
• R.D. Burman Biopic — R.D. Burman, Producer
• Untitled Farhan Akhtar Project — Producer
• Untitled Farhan Akhtar-Neeraj Pandey Movie — R.D Burman
• Untitled Saif Ali Khan - Farhan Akhtar Project — Producer
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 — Imran Qureshi, Producer

Appearances as themselves (13)

• The Roshans — Self
• 2023Brand Bollywood Downunder — Self
• The Drama Company — Self
• BFFs with Vogue — Self
• The Kapil Sharma Show — Self
• Yaaron Ki Baraat — Self
• Comedy Nights with Kapil — Self
• 2012Making of Talaash — Self
• Up Close & Personal with PZ — Himself
• Indian Idol — Self
• Koffee with Karan — Self
• Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai — Himself
• Kaun Banega Crorepati — Self