Veteran poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar turned 80 on Friday. Born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on January 17, 1945, Akhtar comes from a family with a rich literary heritage. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a distinguished poet, while his mother, Safia Akhtar, was a singer and writer. Akhtar's early years were deeply influenced by a love for literature and poetry, with the works of Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and other great Urdu poets shaping his creative journey. After completing his education, Akhtar moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in writing.