Farhan Akhtar

Acting

Farhan Akhtar

Born 1974-01-10 · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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.

Acting credits

The Beatles: John poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of John Lennon.

The Beatles: John

2028

The Beatles: Paul poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of Paul McCartney.

The Beatles: Paul

2028

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara poster
7.6

Three friends who were inseparable in childhood decide to go on a three-week-long bachelor road trip to Spain, in order to re-establish their bond and explore thrilling adventures, before one of them gets married. What will they learn of themselves and each other during the adventure?

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

2011

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag poster
7.5

The true story of the "Flying Sikh" world champion runner and Olympian Milkha Singh who overcame the massacre of his family, civil war during the India-Pakistan partition, and homelessness to become one of India's most iconic athletes.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

2013

Bombay Talkies poster
6.3

One hundred years of Hindi cinema is celebrated in four short stories showcasing the power of film.

Bombay Talkies

2013

The Beatles: George poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of George Harrison.

The Beatles: George

2028

Dil Dhadakne Do poster
6.9

On a cruise to celebrate their parents' 30th wedding anniversary, a brother and sister deal with the impact of family considerations on their romantic lives.

Dil Dhadakne Do

2015

Luck by Chance poster
6.5

Not wanting the same fate as befell her sisters, Sona Mishra re-locates to Mumbai to try to make a living making movies, but she soon finds that the path she has chosen is not an easy one.

Luck by Chance

2009

The Beatles: Ringo poster
NR

One of four biopics, focusing on individual members of The Beatles, this one telling the story of the group from the perspective of Ringo Starr.

The Beatles: Ringo

2028

120 Bahadur poster
6.4

Valiant Indian soldiers fight against Chinese troops during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, preventing a potential occupation of Ladakh region in the Battle of Rezang La.

120 Bahadur

2025

The Sky Is Pink poster
7.7

After succumbing to her terminal illness, a teenager posthumously narrates her parents’ tenacious relationship.

The Sky Is Pink

2019

Toofaan poster
5.2

An inspiring story about an orphan boy from the streets of Dongri, who grows up to become a local goon of his area and how his life changes after he meets the young and compassionate Ananya, who guides him towards the right path and makes him realize his true calling i.e boxing.

Toofaan

2021

The Archies poster
5.6

Set in 1960s India, Archie and the gang navigate romance, friendship and the future of Riverdale as developers threaten to destroy a beloved park.

The Archies

2023

Karthik Calling Karthik poster
6.4

A much abused loner achieves success, and even wins the heart of his gorgeous co-worker, after getting early morning mysterious phone calls from someone.

Karthik Calling Karthik

2010

Child Trafficking poster
NR

One day, five college friends skip class and come across a house conducting seemingly strange activities. Soon, they find a bunch of innocent kids trapped inside and decide to investigate.

Child Trafficking

2014

No artwork available
NR

Neeraj Pandey's next directorial film is a biopic on music legend Rahul Dev Burman, bringing the life of one of Indian cinema’s most influential composer to the big screen.

R.D. Burman Biopic

Brand Bollywood Downunder poster
6.0

When most people think about Australia, they picture massive sandy beaches, singlet-clad locals drinking beer, and kangaroos bounding through the dusty red outback. Saris, musical numbers, and masala are the furthest from anyone's mind - unless of course, you're one of the millions of Bollywood fans from around the world.

Brand Bollywood Downunder

2023

Lucknow Central poster
6.3

After being accused of murder and awaiting his death penalty, Kishen Mohan Girhotra is compelled by NGO worker Gayatri Kashyap to form a musical band of prisoners to compete at band competition held at the dreaded jail of ‘Lucknow Central’. Kishen befriends and convinces a talented bunch of criminals to form a band that provides them with a purpose and a new lease of life.

Lucknow Central

2017

Rock On!! poster
6.9

Aditya, Joe, Kedar and Rob form a rock band, but break up after they fail to make a success of it. They establish regular lives until they decide to reunite and take another shot at fulfilling their dreams.

Rock On!!

2008

Daddy poster
5.8

This is the gritty and sensational true story of Arun Gulab Gawli, a mill worker’s son who grew up in Mumbai’s impoverished Dagdi Chawl, to become an infamous don, politician and chief rival of the most powerful crime boss of the day, Dawood Ibrahim. Daddy realistically charts Mumbai’s true crime history from the 1970s and 1980s until 2012, when Gawli was finally sentenced to life imprisonment.

Daddy

2017

Making of Talaash poster
10.0

One of two documentaries in the dvd release of Talaash, this shows the making of the film with interviews from the cast and crew.

Making of Talaash

2012

Wazir poster
6.8

'Wazir' is a tale of two unlikely friends, a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster and a brave ATS officer. Brought together by grief and a strange twist of fate, the two men decide to help each other win the biggest games of their lives. But there's a mysterious, dangerous opponent lurking in the shadows, who is all set to checkmate them.

Wazir

2016

Rock On 2 poster
4.8

The musical drama is a sequel to the 2008 blockbuster 'Rock On' that tells the story of four friends and their passion for music. This time around, the film centers around the regional conflict prevailing in the North Eastern states of India.

Rock On 2

2016

Shaadi Ke Side Effects poster
5.3

An easy-going man ensures that the spark in his marriage stays strong by always apologizing and opting for the path of least conflict in his relationship. When his wife becomes pregnant and wishes to have the baby, he does not offer resistance, but is also not ready to be a father. How will their relationship evolve?

Shaadi Ke Side Effects

2014

Behind the camera

Superboys of Malegaon poster
7.6

The residents of Malegaon look to Bollywood cinema for a much-needed escape from daily drudgery. Amateur filmmaker Nasir Shaikh gets inspired to make a film for the people of Malegaon, by the people of Malegaon. He bands together his ragtag group of friends to bring his vision to life, thereby bringing a fresh lease of life into the town.

Superboys of Malegaon

2025

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara poster
7.6

Three friends who were inseparable in childhood decide to go on a three-week-long bachelor road trip to Spain, in order to re-establish their bond and explore thrilling adventures, before one of them gets married. What will they learn of themselves and each other during the adventure?

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

2011

Don poster
6.9

DCP DeSilva sees a way to bring to justice the feared head of a criminal empire by recruiting a man named Vijay, who looks exactly like the crime boss. The ruse works too well, and soon Vijay finds his life in danger when DeSilva, the only one who knows his true identity, dies.

Don

2006

Don poster
6.9

DCP DeSilva sees a way to bring to justice the feared head of a criminal empire by recruiting a man named Vijay, who looks exactly like the crime boss. The ruse works too well, and soon Vijay finds his life in danger when DeSilva, the only one who knows his true identity, dies.

Don

2006

Mirzapur: The Movie poster
NR

The battle for Mirzapur's throne escalates as old enemies resurface and new threats emerge. Blood debts must be paid while power-hungry contenders fight to control the city's violent underworld.

Mirzapur: The Movie

2026

Dil Chahta Hai poster
6.9

Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.

Dil Chahta Hai

2001

Dil Chahta Hai poster
6.9

Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.

Dil Chahta Hai

2001

Dil Chahta Hai poster
6.9

Three inseparable childhood friends are just out of college. Nothing comes between them - until they each fall in love, and their wildly different approaches to relationships creates tension.

Dil Chahta Hai

2001

Don 2 poster
7.0

Having conquered the Asian underworld, crime boss Don sets in motion a plan that will give him dominion over Europe.

Don 2

2011

Don 2 poster
7.0

Having conquered the Asian underworld, crime boss Don sets in motion a plan that will give him dominion over Europe.

Don 2

2011

Don 2 poster
7.0

Having conquered the Asian underworld, crime boss Don sets in motion a plan that will give him dominion over Europe.

Don 2

2011

Raees poster
6.7

Set in the early ’80s and ’90s in Gujarat, India, ‘Raees’ is a fictitious story of a crime lord named Raees, who builds an entire empire from scratch, and a police officer who is determined to bring him down.

Raees

2017

Dil Dhadakne Do poster
6.9

On a cruise to celebrate their parents' 30th wedding anniversary, a brother and sister deal with the impact of family considerations on their romantic lives.

Dil Dhadakne Do

2015

Luck by Chance poster
6.5

Not wanting the same fate as befell her sisters, Sona Mishra re-locates to Mumbai to try to make a living making movies, but she soon finds that the path she has chosen is not an easy one.

Luck by Chance

2009

Madgaon Express poster
6.4

Three childhood friends embark on a trip to Goa that goes completely off-track when they wake up in their hotel room to find a cache of cocaine belonging to a don.

Madgaon Express

2024

Boong poster
8.0

In the valley of Manipur, Boong (*a little boy) plans to surprise his mother with a gift. In his innocence, he believes that bringing his father home would be the most special. His search culminates into an unexpected gift – a new beginning...

Boong

2025

120 Bahadur poster
6.4

Valiant Indian soldiers fight against Chinese troops during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, preventing a potential occupation of Ladakh region in the Battle of Rezang La.

120 Bahadur

2025

Lakshya poster
6.7

An aimless, jobless, irresponsible grown man joins the army and matures into a battlefield hero.

Lakshya

2004

Lakshya poster
6.7

An aimless, jobless, irresponsible grown man joins the army and matures into a battlefield hero.

Lakshya

2004

Baar Baar Dekho poster
5.8

An artist wishes to marry her childhood sweetheart and settle into family life. However, her boyfriend, who is a genius mathematician is afraid of commitment and breaks up with her just ahead of their wedding. What will the future hold in store for them?

Baar Baar Dekho

2016

Phone Bhoot poster
5.3

Two crazy, jobless, horror-film addicts Major and Gullu, under immense family pressure to find work, hit upon the idea to float a unique ghost-capturing service when they meet a spirit, Ragini, who makes their business a success but in return asks them for a favour which they are compelled to honour.

Phone Bhoot

2022

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan poster
6.6

Three best friends juggle life as 20-somethings in Mumbai, where romance, ambition and heartbreak collide with the addictive draw of social media.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

2023

Gully Boy poster
7.3

Murad, an underdog, struggles to convey his views on social issues and life in Dharavi through rapping. His life changes drastically when he meets a local rapper, Shrikant alias MC Sher.

Gully Boy

2019

No artwork available
NR

An upcoming film. Plot TBA.

Kanika Dhillon's Directorial Debut Film