Farhan Akhtar started his career by working as an apprentice with cinematographer-director, Manmohan Singh at age 17, for films like Lamhe (1991); before going on to assist director, Pankaj Parashar in film Himalayputra (1997), followed by working in a television production house for three years, doing various jobs.

He made his writing and directorial debut in Hindi cinema with the 2001-hit, Dil Chahta Hai, produced by Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., a production company he co-established along with Ritesh Sidwani in 1999.The movie told the story of three friends (played by Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna), recently graduated from college and dealing with issues of love and friendship. It was a critical and commercial success, especially popular among the younger generation. It earned quite a few nominations at various award shows, including for Best Screenplay, Direction and Film. It won that year’s National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

Akhtar then moved onto his next project, Lakshya (2004), a movie about an aimless youngster finally setting a goal for himself, starring Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta. Though the movie did not do as well at the box-office, it won him much critical acclaim. The script of the movie was authored by his father Javed Akhtar.

He then directed a remake of the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan film, Don titled Don – The Chase Begins Again which starred Shahrukh Khan in the title role. The film released on 20 October 2006. Though the movie was critically hammered, it proved to be a great success at the box office, grossing over 50 crores, and being the fifth biggest hit of the year.In 2007 he produced the film Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. which performed fairly well at the box office.

In 2007, he directed, Positive, a 12-minute short film on HIV stigma and the need for family support for the patient. Shot in Mumbai, it was part of ‘AIDS JaaGo’ (AIDS Awake), a series of four short films, directed by Mira Nair, Santosh Sivan, Vishal Bhardwaj and Farhan Akhtar, in a joint initiative of Mira Nair’s Mirabai Films and voluntary organisations Avahan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.The film stars, Boman Irani, Shabana Azmi and a debutant actor, Arjun Mathur.

In 2008, Akhtar made his acting debut in Rock On!!. It was critically acclaimed as well as a box office hit, doing exceptionally well particularly in the metros.He also appeared as the male lead in his sister Zoya’s directorial debut, Luck By Chance. His latest film is Kartik Calling Kartik. Two more movies are scheduled to release: Dhruv and Gulel.In 2011 Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is scheduled to release in which he co-stars with hrithik.

Akhtar also made his singing debut in Rock On!!, singing in most of the movie’s songs. He was even supposed to sing a song for Blue, which has music by A. R. Rahman. However this could not happen as Akhtar was shooting for Kartik Calling Karthik then and could not find the time.

He has appeared as a judge on a few shows on television, including the first season of the dance-reality show, Nach Baliye (2005), and the beauty pageant, Femina Miss India (in 2002). He also hosted a TV show on NDTV Imagine, called Oye! It’s Friday!.

Farhan Akhtar’s directorial venture ‘Don- the chase begins’ released in the year 2006.  Looking at the success of the film at box-office a sequel to it was declared.

“Don Sequel is still in pipeline as we haven’t started shooting it. The project has already been delayed firstly because I was shooting for ‘Luck by Chance’.” Says Farhan.

He further says “I wanted to start shooting this film by summers as it is a suitable time to shoot in Europe, after that the weather is not that conducive. But Shahrukh has pre-commitment with KJo for ‘My Name is Khan’ also now he is going through a shoulder surgery. So for now its postponed and may be by 2010 we will start up with this project.”

Farhan made his presence in the industry felt with his acting debut in ‘Rock On’, though he had already breathed fresh air into Indian filmmaking through his directorial debut ‘Dil Chahta Hai’.
He has dabbled backstage since 1991, but Zoya, after giving her creative inputs in almost all family ventures by being involved in one form or another, has finally come out with her directorial debut ‘Luck By Chance’, starring Farhaan, and with the intelligent inputs of all her creative family.

The film name is ‘Kartik Calling Kartik’ and Farhan Akhtar is playing a pivotal role in the movie with Deepika Padukone. The script of the film has been written by Vijay Lalwani and he convinced Farhan Akhtar not just to produce it but also to play a leading role in the movie.

It is said that Deepika Padukone has shown her interest in the script but still she has not finalized the film. The film will be a thriller and will go on floor at various locations in India in the first half of 2009.
At the same time, Farhan Akhtar is extremely busy in promoting his forthcoming film ‘Luck By Chance’ which has been directed by her sister Zoya Akhtar.

Less than six months after making his debut as an actor/singer in Rock On, Farhan Akhtar is back as a leading man. Luck By Chance is the film in question which sees him as a solo lead while being paired opposite Konkona Sen Sharma. Even though as producers, he and Ritesh Sidhwani are going ahead with a ’subtle promotion’ philosophy while letting audiences explore the film by themselves, there are still good hopes from this directorial debut of Zoya Akhtar.

Director Farhan Akhtar, who makes his acting and singing debut with Rock On, says his crooning for the film was essential to make the character authentic.

Releasing this Friday, the film narrates the story of four friends who put together a rock band but fail to make it a success. Years later, fate brings them back together to relive their cherished dream from where they had left off.

Other actors in the film include Arjun Rampal, Shahana Goswami, Luke Kenny, Koel Puri and Prachi Desai.

Farhan, who has sung six out of nine songs in the film, said that him singing for the lead vocalist’s character was their way of showing their sincerity towards the project.

The actor-director, who has made films like Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya, said he has been inclined towards music much before the film came along.

As an actor, Farhan would be next seen in Luck by Chance and The Fakir of Venice. And as a director he will helm the shooting of Voice from the Sky later this year.

Another scion of the Akhtar family, Javed Akhtar’s daughter Zoya Akhtar is all set to direct her first film, LUCK BY CHANCE. The film starring Zoya’s brother Farhan Akhtar and Tabu, is based on the film industry but will be more contemporary as compared to both OM SHANTI OM and KHOYA KHOYA CHAND. Farhan will be playing a struggling actor who comes to Bombay from Delhi.

An interesting thing to note is that while Farhan plays the male lead, Hrithik Roshan has verbally agreed to essay an extended cameo in the film. This will be Hrithik Roshan’s second cameo after his home banner venture, KRAZZY 4.

LUCK BY CHANCE is set to go on the floors in March 2008.