FARHAN AkHTAR

An accomplished and award-winning producer-director-writer-actor-singer, Farhan Akhtar is the ultimate Bollywood multi hyphenate and trend setter.

Debuting in 2001 as a writer, director and producer with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, a coming-of-age film that changed the landscape of cinema and inspired a whole new generation of film makers, Farhan came to be lauded for his honest, path-breaking writing and his ability to extract mature performances from his cast.

The film won him the National Award for ‘Best Hindi Feature Film’ and Filmfare Awards for ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Film (Critics)’.

That same year he formed Excel Entertainment, a production banner with his friend Ritesh Sidhwani. Over the last 25 years, the banner has become synonymous with excellence in film-making.

His second film as director was ‘Lakshya’, a film set against the backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War, that has grown to be one of the most influential pieces of work for young India and continues to inspire the youth to join the armed forces.

In 2008, Farhan debuted as an actor-singer in ‘Rock On!!’ Yet another runaway success and a film that brought Hindi Rock music into the mainstream, the film secured him a second National Award for ‘Best Hindi Feature Film’ and the Filmfare award for ‘Best debut Male performance’.

The dream run continued with ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, which released in 2011 to both popular and critical acclaim, winning him three Filmfare awards for ‘Best Film’, ‘Best Actor in a supporting role’ and as a writer for ‘Best Dialogue’.

His next, a biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh, popularly known as ‘the Flying Sikh’, was titled ’Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’.  Farhan was lauded for his incredible dedication and transformation in the portrayal, setting the benchmark for all biopics to follow.

He swept all ‘Best Actor’ awards that year.

In 2019, he gave an emotional and stirring performance in the film ‘The Sky Is Pink’ co-starring Priyanka Chopra. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Roy Thomson Hall.

That same year, he co produced ‘Gully Boy’, a film that brought hip-hop music from the streets to the screen.

The film won him ‘Best picture’ across all award ceremonies that year and was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars.

His most recent film as an actor was ‘120 Bahadur’, which released in 2025.

Based on true events of the 1962 Battle of Rezang La, his performance as the martyred Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (PVC) earned him unanimous praise and the film highlighted the bravery and courage of India’s army in the face of insurmountable odds.

In addition to his contribution to Indian cinema, Farhan has initiated and supported a plethora of social causes.

In 2012, he founded MARD (Men against Rape & Discrimination), an initiative that raises awareness about gender-related issues amongst the youth of India.

Recognising his sustained efforts, Farhan was made the first male UN Women goodwill ambassador (South Asia) in 2014.

In 2023, Farhan won the prestigious Kamla Bhasin Award for Driving Gender Equality Across South Asia.

In a historic milestone for Indian cinema, Farhan Akhtar & Ritesh Sidhwani backed the Manipuri feature Boong, which won Best Children’s & Family Film at the 2026 BAFTA Awards.

This achievement marked the first time an Indian production has ever secured this prestigious honour.

He is, as of today, portraying Pandit Ravi Shankar in the upcoming film ‘The Beatles’ being made by multiple Oscar winning director Sam Mendes, this taking forward the legacy of India’s great classical contribution to global music.

Filmography

• Dil Chahta Hai (2001) – Writer, Producer & Director
• Lakshya (2004) – Producer & Director
• Don (2006) – Writer, Producer & Director
• Honeymoon Travels (2007) – Producer
• Positive (2007) – Writer, Producer & Director
• Rock On (2008) – Actor, Dialogue Writer & Producer
• Luck By Chance (2009) – Actor & Producer
• Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) – Actor & Producer
• Game (2011) – Dialogue writer & Producer
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) – Actor, Dialogue Writer & Producer
• Don 2 (2011) – Director, Dialogue Writer & Producer
• Talaash (2012) – Dialogue Writer & Producer
• Fukrey (2013) – Producer
• Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) – Actor
• Shaadi ke Side Effects (2014) – Actor
• Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) – Actor, Dialogue Writer & Producer
• Bangistan (2015) – Producer
• Wazir (2016) – Actor
• Baar Baar Dekho (2016) – Producer
• Rock On 2 (2016) – Actor & Producer
• Raees (2017) – Producer
• Lucknow Central (2017) – Actor
• Fukrey Returns (2017) – Producer
• 3 Storeys (2018) – Producer
• Gold (2018) – Producer
• KGF Chapter 1 (2018) – Presenter
• Gully boy (2019) – Producer
• The Sky is Pink (2019) – Actor
• Hello Charlie (2021) – producer
• Toofaan (2021) – Actor & Producer
• Sharmaji Namkeen (2022) – Producer
• Phonebhoot (2022) – Producer
• KGF 2 (2022) – Presenter
• Fukrey 3 (2023) – Producer
• Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) – Producer
• Madgaon Express (2024) – Producer
• Agni (2024) – Producer
• Ramayana (2025) – Presenter
• Superboys Of Malegaon (2025) – Producer
• Ground Zero (2025) – Producer
• Tanvi The Great (2025) – Presenter
• Songs Of Paradise (2025) – Presenter
• 120 Bahadur (2025) – Actor & Producer
• Boong (2025) – Producer
• Mirzapur: The Movie (TBR) – Producer
• The Beatles (TBR) – Actor

Original Series

• Inside Edge (2017) – Executive Producer
• Mirzapur (2018) – Executive producer
• Made in Heaven (2019) – Executive producer
• Inside Edge 2 (2019) – Executive producer
• Mirzapur 2 (2020) – Executive producer
• Inside Edge 3 (2021) – Executive Producer
• Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022) – Executive Producer
• Ms Marvel (2022) – Actor
• Dahaad (2023) – Executive Producer
• Made in Heaven 2 (2023) – Executive Producer
• Bambai Meri Jaan (2023) – Executive Producer
• Mirzapur 3 (2024) – Executive Producer
• Angry Young Men (2024)- Executive Producer
• Dabba Cartel (2025) – Executive Producer
• Andhera (2025) – Executive Producer