Farhan Akhtar (born 9 January 1974) is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer, and television host. His directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai, was highly praised and he has since been noted for his cult following. He made his acting debut with Rock On!!.

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.