Why Bollywood needs more stars like Farhan Akhtar

Over the years, Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani’s son Farhan Akhtar has personified the word ‘versatile’. Be it acting, directing, singing or anchoring, Farhan has carved a niche for himself in multiple spheres of Indian entertainment. Here’s a list of things that set him apart from the usual Bollywood actor...

Farhan helmed the director’s chair for the first time in 2001 for the National Award winning ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. Seven years later, he made his acting debut in Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Rock On!!’. There on, he’s gone on to star in 9 films, including the critically acclaimed ‘Luck By Chance’, the breezy hit ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and the blockbuster ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. Farhan displayed tremendous versatility in the roles that he’s essayed over the years. It’s been five years since his last directorial, but with a repertoire that boasts of films like ‘Lakshya’ and ‘Don’, we can’t wait for his next.

Farhan made his singing debut in the 2008 blockbuster ‘Rock On!!’, and has gone on to croon for ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects’, ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’, ‘Wazir’ and ‘Rock On 2’. His songs have been a hit with the masses and Farhan has also performed with his band at concerts as well. Recently, he played at the ‘Global Citizen Festival India’ on the same stage as Coldplay, JayZ and Demi Lovato.

Farhan launched the Men Against Rape and Discrimination or MARD/M.A.R.D social campaign in the year 2013 after Pallavi Purkayastha, a legal advisor in filmmaker Farhan Akhtar's firm Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd, was brutally murdered by her watchman for fighting for her dignity because he tried to sexually assault her. The campaign aims to raise social awareness against rape and discrimination of women. Post its launch, the campaign garnered interest from many celebrities including Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Shabana Azmi, Arjun Rampal, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan and Arjun Rampal.

The 43-year-old is known for his quirky sense of humour and wit. Farhan hosted his own TV show, ‘Oye! It’s Friday!’ which aired soon after his on-screen debut, ‘Rock On!!’ in 2008. Audience tuned in weekly to see Farhan play the jock, host and entertainer premier while celebrities participated in the show’s many hilarious gags and were interviewed by him.