Farhan Akhtar is an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, playback singer, producer, and television host who is known for working in Hindi films. He was born on 9th January 1974 in Mumbai to Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. His father is a famous poet, lyricist, screenwriter, and political activist. His mother is an actress and a screenwriter. He has one elder sister, Zoya Akhtar. His stepmother, Shabana Azmi is a famous Bollywood actress. He is the grandson of Urdu Poet Jan Nisar Akhtar, and great-grandson of Urdu Poet Muztar Khairabadi. He is also the nephew of the child actress Daisy Irani and the first cousin of Choreographer Farah Akhtar and Sajid Khan. Farhan completed his education at Maneckji Cooper School, Mumbai, and then he pursued a law degree at HR College, Mumbai.
He started his career as an apprentice in film distribution and direction for Lamhe in 1991, when he was just 17 years old. After that, he worked at an advertisement production house, Script Shop. He worked as an assistant director under Pankaj Parashar for the 1997 film Himalay Putra.
In 1999, Farhan started his production company Excel Entertainment with Ritesh SIdhwani.
Farhan made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. He got several positive reviews and was critically acclaimed by not only national critics but International also ones. The film also won the National Awards for Best Hindi film. He also directed several other films, such as Lakshya (2004), Don (2006), Don 2 (2011),
He made his acting debut with the film Rock On!! In 2008. This film won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. He acted in several other films, such as Luck By Chance (2009), Karthik Calling Karthik (2010), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), The Sky is Pink (2019), Toofan (2021), etc.
As a lyricist, Farhan assisted his father in writing the English lyrics of a song in Lagaan. He wrote the English lyrics of the 2004 Hollywood film Bride and Prejudice. He wrote a song for the film Blue.
As a producer, Akhtar produced several films, such as Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd (2007), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Don 2 (2011), Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012), Bar Bar Dekho (2016), Raees (2017), etc.
Apart from acting, Farhan appeared as a judge in the beauty pageant Femina Miss India in 2022. He was the judge on the first season of the dance reality show Nach Baliye. He hosted the TV show Oye! It’s Friday!.
He endorsed several brands such as Pureit, Chivas Regal, Britannia Nutri Choice Biscuits, Indusind Bank, Dulux Paint, Titan Industries, and Crocin+2.
Farhan married Adhuna Bhabani in 2000. They together have two daughters, Shakya and Akira. They separated after 16 years of their marriage, on 24th April 2017. On 19th February 2022, Farhan married VJ Shibani Dandekar.
Name | Farhan Akhtar |
Nick Name | Bulbul (by his nanny) |
Profession | Actor, Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Singer |
Date of Birth | 9 January 1974 |
Age | 48 Years (2022) |
Birth Place | Mumbai, Maharashtra India |
Nationality | Indian |
Hometown | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (Settled in Mumbai) |
School | Maneckji Cooper School, Mumbai |
Collage | H.R. College of Commerce and Economics (he was dismissed from the college in the 2nd year due to attendance shortage) |
Debut | Film (Director): Dil Chahta Hai (2001)![]() Film (Actor): Rock On!! (2008) ![]() Film (Producer): Don (2006) ![]() |
Religion | Atheist |
Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
Address | Sea Spring Bungalow No 1, B J Road, Bandstand, Mumbai – 400050 |
Hobbies | Collecting Gadgets, Singing |
Farhan Akhtar Career
- He started his career as an apprentice in film distribution and direction for Lamhe in 1991, when he was just 17 years old.
- After that, he worked at an advertisement production house, Script Shop.
- He worked as an assistant director under Pankaj Parashar for the 1997 film Himalay Putra.
- In 1999, Farhan started his production company Excel Entertainment with Ritesh SIdhwani.
- Farhan made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001.
- He also directed several other films, such as Lakshya (2004), Don (2006), Don 2 (2011),
- He made his acting debut with the film Rock On!! In 2008.
- He acted in several other films, such as Luck By Chance (2009), Karthik Calling Karthik (2010), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), The Sky is Pink (2019), Toofan (2021), etc.
- As a lyricist, Farhan assisted his father in writing the English lyrics of a song in Lagaan.
- He wrote the English lyrics of the 2004 Hollywood film Bride and Prejudice. He wrote a song for the film Blue.
- As a producer, Akhtar produced several films, such as Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd (2007), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Don 2 (2011), Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012), Bar Bar Dekho (2016), Raees (2017), etc.
- Apart from acting, Farhan appeared as a judge in the beauty pageant Femina Miss India in 2022.
- He was the judge on the first season of the dance reality show Nach Baliye.
- He hosted the TV show Oye! It’s Friday!
Farhan Akhtar Family
Father Name | Javed Akhtar (Lyricist and Scriptwriter) |
Mother Name | Honey Irani (Actress & screenwriter, Farhan’s mother by birth)![]() Shabana Azmi (Stepmother) |
Brother | None |
Sister | Zoya Akhtar (Elder, Director & Screenwriter) |
Wife | Shibani Dandekar (m. 2022) |
Farhan Akhtar Relationship / Marital Status & Many More
Marital Status | Married |
Affairs / Girlfriend | Adhuna Bhabani (Hairstylist)![]() Shraddha Kapoor (Actress) ![]() Shibani Dandekar (Actress, VJ) |
Wife/ Spouse | First Wife- Adhuna Bhabani (m. 2000; div. 2016) Second Wife– Shibani Dandekar (m. February 2022-present) |
Marriage date | First Marriage- Year, 2000 Second Marriage- 19 February 2022 |
Marriage Place | N/A |
Children | Son: None Daughters: Shakya & Akira ![]() |

Farhan Akhtar Physical Stats
Height | In Centimeter – 165 cm In Meter – 1.65 m In feet & inches – 5’5 |
Weight | In Kilogram- 54 Kg In Pounds – 119lbs |
Eye Color | Black |
Hair Color | Brown |
Farhan Akhtar Favourite
Favourite Actor | Bollywood: Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand Hollywood: Robert Di Nero, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Woody Allen, Billy Wilder |
Favourite Actress | Preity Zinta |
Favourite genre | Action |
Favourite Movie | The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
Favourite Cuisine | Italian and Indian = |
Favourite Color | White, Black |
Favourite Sport | Football, Tennis |
Favourite Destination | N/A |
Farhan Akhtar Education
School | Maneckji Cooper School, Mumbai |
Collage | H.R. College of Commerce and Economics (he was dismissed from the college in the 2nd year due to attendance shortage) |
Educational Qualification | High School |

Farhan Akhtar’s Net Worth
Net Worth | Rs. 140 Crores ($22 Million) |
Salary | Rs. 10 crore/film |
Income Source | Acting |
Car Collection | Range Rover Red Edition, M350 CDI SUV Porsche Cayman. Honda CRV |
Some Unknown facts about Farhan Akhtar
- Does Farhan Akhtar smoke?: No (Quit)
- Does Farhan Akhtar drink alcohol?: Yes
- He is a dog lover.
- He has Katsaridaphobia, the fear of cockroaches.
- He has been associated with UN Women.
- Before Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar was the first choice for Rang De Basanti.
- He always wanted to be an actor since his childhood. While he was so curious that he even try to perform some action scenes and stunts. He once punched his sister’s nose by mistake when he was performing a stunt.
- Been a successful actor he is director, producer, and singer. Sometimes, he is also recognized as an all-rounder of Bollywood. Here’s a video showcasing his singing at the Indian of the Year awards:
- Once his sister Zoya revealed that he is very good at lying
- She married Adhuna who is seven years older than him. The couple started dating in 1997 and got married in 2000 after three years of dating.