Javed Akhtar’s Heartfelt Birthday Wish to Daughter Zoya Akhtar Melts the Internet

Javed’s note struck an emotional chord with readers, who flooded the comments with love and admiration for the bond between the celebrated father-daughter duo. The simplicity and sincerity of his message—marked with that affectionate “Pa” at the end—encapsulated decades of shared creative legacy and unconditional love. Born to Javed Akhtar and screenwriter Honey Irani, Zoya grew up surrounded by storytelling excellence. With actress Shabana Azmi as her stepmother and filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar as her brother, the Akhtar household has long been synonymous with cinematic brilliance. Each member has carved a distinct space in Indian cinema, inspiring generations of artists. Zoya’s most recent work was the live-action adaptation of The Archies, released on Netflix in December 2023. The film, which introduced a new wave of young talent including Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, and Suhana Khan, brought the iconic Riverdale universe to an Indian setting. While it opened to mixed to negative reviews, it showcased Zoya’s continued passion for experimenting with form, youth narratives, and nostalgic pop culture. As Javed reminisced about the moment his daughter first smiled at him, fans were reminded that behind every creative powerhouse lies a story of love, care, and humanity. Sometimes, even the most eloquent lyricist finds his truest poetry not in written verse—but in a father’s simple birthday wish.