10 Urdu ash'ar / shayari (shers, couplets) by
Javed Akhtar
1945- N.A,
Sitapur (Uttar Pradesh)
Javed Akhtar Biography
Biography
Javed Akhtar is one of the most celebrated contemporary voices in Urdu poetry and Indian cinema. Born in Gwalior in 1945 into a literary family, he is the son of Urdu poet Jan Nisar Akhtar and Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer. His family background gave him a strong grounding in literature and language.
In the 1970s, Javed Akhtar rose to fame as part of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, alongside Salim Khan. Together, they wrote iconic films such as Sholay, Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Don. Their work redefined Bollywood storytelling with gritty realism and larger-than-life characters.
Later, Javed Akhtar focused on poetry and lyrics, writing some of the most memorable songs in Hindi cinema. His collections of Urdu poetry, including Tarkash, reveal his command of form, while his film songs carry both lyrical beauty and social meaning.
He has received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, along with multiple national and film industry honors. Beyond his creative career, Javed Akhtar is an outspoken public intellectual, often raising his voice on issues of secularism, equality, and freedom of expression.
In his personal life, he was first married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan and Zoya, both prominent in Indian cinema. He later married actress Shabana Azmi, forming one of the most influential cultural partnerships in India.
Javed Akhtar remains a living bridge between Urdu literary tradition and popular culture, admired as much for his poetry as for his powerful screenwriting legacy.
1 / 10: Javed Akhtar
har ghar mein bas
ek hi kamra kam hai
everyone is just
one step away from happiness
every home is short of
just one room
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2 / 10: Javed Akhtar
kuch na hoga to
tajurba hoga
why be constantly fearful
as to what will happen in life
if nothing happens, at the least
we will gain some experience
Theme: Life, Learning, & Living (122)
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3 / 10: Javed Akhtar
ab milte hain
jab bhi fursat hoti hai
once, we stole time
to be with each other
now, we only meet
only if leisure permits
Theme: Friends, Family, & Community (126)
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4 / 10: Javed Akhtar
lekin ek safar par ai dil
ab jaana to hoga
i too feel frightened
by the lonely quietness of the path
but my heart is set on this journey
i have no choice but to go
journey, travel
window, door, gate
path, paths
silence, quietness
Theme: Quest, Journey, & Destination (52)
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5 / 10: Javed Akhtar
tum sab se maazrat
ke tabeeyaat udaas hai
worry about livelihood, my heart's lament
and thoughts of my beloved
i beg your forgiveness
but am a bit melacholic today
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6 / 10: Javed Akhtar
magar jo kho gayi
woh cheez kya thi
that cherished dream
you have realized
but, what is that
you have lost, along the way?
Theme: Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)
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7 / 10: Javed Akhtar
mujhe paamaal raston
ka safar achcha naheen lagta
where everybody goes
i don’t like going there
on the trodden path
i don’t like to travel
Theme: Quest, Journey, & Destination (52)
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8 / 10: Javed Akhtar
kuchh log mere hisse ka
sooraj bhi kha gaye
my house got trapped
among tall towers
they consumed even
the share of my sunlight
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9 / 10: Javed Akhtar
honTon pe latife hain
awaaz mein chaale hain
in this city,
the style of living is so strange
wit and smile on the lips
but sharp edges in the voice
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10 / 10: Javed Akhtar
kyun gila phir
hamein hava se rahe
these lamps already
had too little oil
why then do we
complain against the wind
Theme: Grit, Resilience, & Courage (52)
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