Farhan Akhtar 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 HIVAIDS