The Hindu : Other States / Maharashtra News : Javed Akhtar turns 60

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Tuesday, Jan 18, 2005

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Javed Akhtar turns 60

MUMBAI, JAN. 17. Noted poet and film lyricist, Javed Akhtar, known for his rich repetoire of poems both in Hindi and Urdu, turned 60 today.

The suburban residence of Akhtar was flooded with phone calls, cards and visitors right from the morning wishing the poet on his turning 60.

``Our house is filled with visitors and guests flying all the way from London, New Delhi and other parts of the country and the globe'', Javed's wife, noted actress Shabana Azmi told PTI here.

About Javed, she said, ``I think he is becoming a more mature person and his poetry has been on the progressive track.

But I still feel he has a very long innings. He is one of the few writers who has been working with the younger generation that helps him keep the spring in his feet and the older ones that makes him stay rooted to the ground.''

``Javed himself thinks that turning 60 gives him the `official freedom to be senile''', she said in a lighter vein.

o mark the occasion, the family had thrown a party yesterday, capturing the mood of the 60's.

``Javed, a big fan of Dev Anand, had dressed up as the actor with the collared apparel while I dressed as Sharmila Tagore from the film `Waqt', Baba (Shabana's brother and famous photographer) dressed as Shammi Kapoor and Farhaan (Javed's son and film-maker) as one of the group members of the music group Beatles'', she said. ``We also had a stylist to do the hairstyles of the 60s'' Shabana added.

``Today we have lined up a party for Javed and have invited his close friends, members of the industry and family. It is going to be celebration time,'' she said.

Born on January 17, 1945 into the family of writers Jan Nisar and Safia Akhtar, Javed moved from Bhopal to Mumbai to seek his fortune.

It was his pairing with writer Salim that saw both earning fame and fortune.

Their films like `Zanjeer', 'Deewar', `Sholay', `Haathi Mere Sathi',`Seeta Aur Geeta' and `Trishul' saw cash registers ringing. However, the two parted ways in 1981 and Javed went on to script his own success stories through films like `Mr India', `Betaab' and `Arjun'.

Akhtar has been a recipient of the Filmfare award 13 times, including seven times for the best script, three for the best lyrics.

He has also won the national awards five times. - PTI

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Javed Akhtar turns 60