Two years after he first landed in Bombay with just 27 paise in his pocket, Javed Akhtar walked into a producers house while he was having a breakfast of pineapple slices.

The producer threw Akhtars scenes in his face, saying that he would never be a writer.

In an autobiographical piece, Akhtar admits to wiping a tiny tear, then wondering, Does this fellow have pineapple for breakfast everyday?

With spirit like that, its no wonder that Akhtar survived three more years in the city where he came alive, before landing his first break.

With Salim Khan, he went on to write among the most dramatic Hindi films like Sholay, Zanjeer, Deewar, Don, Kaala Patthar, Trishul and Shakti, creating arresting characters and indelible lines.

Akhtar also wrote lyrics like Tumko dekha to yeh khayal aaya (Saath Saath) as easily as he did Ek Do Teen (Tehzaab), Ek ladki ko (1947: A Love Story) as fluidly as Kate nahin kat te din (Mr India), Duniya mane bura to goli maro (Arjun) with as much conviction as Yeh jo des hai tera (Swades).

But it wasnt until his poet father passed away in 1976, that Akhtar penned his first poem. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 1999 and is today a scriptwriter, lyricist, poet, activist and author, all rolled into one.

Born to Urdu poet/film lyricist Jan Nisar and teacher Safia in Gwalior on Januray 17, 1945, Akhtar came from a family of poets, but struggled long and hard before etching out his path.

Once he established himself, Akhtars professional and personal life seeped into films he married former child actor Honey Irani, with whom he had director Farhan Akhtar and his sister Zoya.

After he divorced Irani, Akhtar married his beloved Shabana Azmi and is today considered an important Indian voice in each of the fields he has straddled.

(Pictures co-ordinated by Heena Agarwal )

1. At five months in Gwalior 2. With brother Salman and mother Safiya at Nainital 3. With Salman and father Jan Nisar Akhtar at Lucknow 4. Javed Akhtar at 13 5. During the shooting of Sholay 6. With son Farhan 7. With daughter Zoya at Farhans and Adhunas wedding 8. With wife Shabana and grand daughter Shakya 9. Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma releases Akhtars and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khans album Sangam 10. Giving a lecture at Harvard university in 1999 on the secular element in Urdu poetry 11. With Shabana at a rally for womens rights in Delhi in 2000