Farhan Akhtar is an Indian actor, filmmaker and singer known for his work in Hindi films. Born on 9 January 1974 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, he is 52 years old as of October 2026. He is the son of screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, and his sister Zoya Akhtar is a film director. Over more than two decades, he has built a career that moves between directing, acting, writing and singing, and several of his films have become widely remembered parts of modern Hindi cinema.
He first made his mark as a director and later became known as a leading actor. As a director, he is best known for Dil Chahta Hai, while as an actor he is closely associated with Rock On!! and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He also sang his own songs in Rock On!!, including the song Socha Hai .
Early Life
Farhan Akhtar was born on 9 January 1974 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He grew up in a family deeply connected to Hindi cinema. His father, Javed Akhtar, and his mother, Honey Irani, both worked as screenwriters, and his sister, Zoya Akhtar, later became a film director.
He began working in films at a young age. He worked as an assistant director on Yash Chopra's Lamhe at the age of 17, and later worked on Pankaj Parashar's Himalay Putra. Those early jobs gave him practical experience behind the camera before he moved on to directing films of his own.
Career as Director
In 1999, he co-founded Excel Entertainment with Ritesh Sidhwani. The company went on to produce many of the films he directed and acted in.
His directorial debut was Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. The coming-of-age film became a cult classic and won the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film. It also won Filmfare Awards for Best Film (Critics) and Best Screenplay.
He later directed the war film Lakshya in 2004, the action thriller Don in 2006, and Don 2 in 2011. Together, these films showed his range as a director, from a character-driven story about friendship to large-scale action cinema.
Career as Actor and Singer
His acting debut was the musical drama Rock On!! in 2008. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for the film, and also won a second National Film Award for Best Hindi Film as a producer of the film. He sang his own songs in it, including Socha Hai, with music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
In Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in 2011, he starred in the film, wrote its dialogues and produced it. The film won Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Supporting Actor and Best Dialogue.
He played athlete Milkha Singh in the biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in 2013. His performance won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
His later acting work includes Dil Dhadakne Do in 2015, Wazir in 2016, The Sky Is Pink in 2019 and Toofaan in 2021.
Personal Life
He married Adhuna Bhabani in 2000, and the couple divorced in 2017. They have two daughters, Shakya and Akira. He married Shibani Dandekar in 2022.
For more profiles from Hindi cinema, read the Hrithik Roshan biography, the Shah Rukh Khan biography and the Priyanka Chopra biography.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official video for the Rock On!! song Socha Hai below.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Farhan Akhtar born?
Farhan Akhtar was born on 9 January 1974 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
What was his directorial debut?
His directorial debut was Dil Chahta Hai, released in 2001.
Which film was his acting debut?
His acting debut was the musical drama Rock On!!, released in 2008.
Which award did he win for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
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