Happy Birthday Farhan Akhtar: How the actor-director-singer pushed the envelope with his films

Farhan Akhtar wears many hats, after being a successful director-producer, he turned actor. He is also a talented singer and a brilliant host. He has made films that have been entertaining yet thought-provoking. Farhan has also backed film-makers that have attempted to make different films, under his banner. 

Farhan has been a strong voice against violence and discrimination against women. Farhan is known to speak up his mind about important issues and also started his own organization, Men Against Rape and Discrimination. 

With his work, Farhan has pushed the envelope of Hindi films. His vision and execution are exemplary. On his 44^th birthday, here’s taking a look at all the iconic films Farhan has been a part of:-

1. Dil Chahta Hai: Farhan entered the industry in 2001 with his first directorial venture, Dil Chahta Hai. The film explored friendships, heartbreak, and love. Aamir Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna acted beautifully in the film. It changed the landscape of Bollywood. The film targeted urban youth but garnered acceptance from all sections. Farhan not only directed the film but also wrote the story and dialogues of the film. ​

2. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Farhan migrated to the other side of the camera and aced the role of Milkha Singh. He sweated it out for more than 13 months to look the part. His transformation wowed the audience. “It's a game changer for setting standards of hard work that an actor can put into a role,” Farhan had said about his role in the film. Farhan received many awards for his performance and the film became a huge success. 

3. Rock On: Farhan surprised the audience in the film Rock On in which he showcased his singing talent. The musical film directed by Abhishek Kapoor was widely accepted. The movie was a box office hit and the songs became the anthem among the youth. The movie had Akhtar singing songs that ranged from rock to love ballads. 

4. Lakshya: After Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan’s directorial venture starring Hrithik Roshan and Amitabh Bachchan was a war-drama based on the Kargil war. “Making Lakshyawas an eye-opener for me. Nobody from my immediate family who has army background so I had to learn a lot about it. My biggest learning was the serious amount of pride those people have in their country, their people and in their national identity,” Farhan had said about the film. 

5. Don:  A film not many would dare to take up, Farhan Akhtar remade the iconic Amitabh Bachchan classic- Don with Shah Rukh Khan. The new generation queued up in theatres to watch the Shah Rukh Khan starrer. The action-packed film whose storyline was similar to the original film was one of the highest grossing films that year.