A young life in a luminous family
I think of Akira Akhtar as a quiet constellation in a galaxy of very bright stars. She is one of two daughters of filmmaker, actor, producer, and singer Farhan Akhtar and hairstylist entrepreneur Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar. Born around 2007, she has largely grown up away from the public glare. The few times she steps into view tend to come through affectionate family moments, like birthday tributes, festivals, or a proud parent celebrating milestones. In 2025 her father publicly marked her 18th birthday, a loving snapshot that also hints at how deliberately her parents have kept her world off center stage.
I admire the restraint her family shows. The storytelling around Akira is not about a debut or a launch. It is about presence, belonging, and the soft texture of everyday life.
Parents Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar
Farhan and Adhuna married in 2000 and later revealed their separation in 2016, finalizing their divorce in 2017. Through that transition they emphasized co parenting and respect. Their daughters, Shakya and Akira, remained the priority. Reporting at the time noted custody being with Adhuna, and subsequent public glimpses have reflected a cordial, carefully balanced arrangement.
Farhan needs little introduction. As an artist he has written, directed, performed, and produced. His career spans modern classics, music albums, and a popular stage presence. Adhuna, English born and India raised, is a pioneer in the salon space, widely known for the BBLUNT brand and for shaping contemporary hair culture in Mumbai. She has spoken about her Bengali father and English mother, threading a multicultural inheritance into her creative life.
Together, their parenting style appears practical and protective, with room for art and curiosity. That balance seems to define Akira’s public life too. She is present, yet not exposed.
Sisterhood Shakya and Akira
Sibling stories often live in the margins of celebrity narratives, yet here they feel central. Shakya is the elder sister, an independent young woman who completed university studies in the United Kingdom. Akira, the younger sister, moves through the same family aura with an even lighter footprint. At times both are mentioned as having creative inclinations, like music or design, the kind of ambient interests that might be nurtured in a home steeped in art.
When I picture the two, I imagine a private canvas with notes of guitar, sketchbooks, playlists, and the simple rhythm of shared routines. It is not grand theater. It is the warmth of kitchen banter and late night listening sessions. Quiet, and very real.
Paternal lineage The Akhtar storytellers
The paternal side of Akira’s family is a storied lineage. Her grandfather Javed Akhtar is a celebrated poet and screenwriter, an architect of lyrics and scripts that shaped Hindi cinema’s modern voice. Her grandmother Honey Irani is an actor and writer, with a career that intersects the evolution of narrative craftsmanship. Her aunt Zoya Akhtar stands tall among contemporary directors and producers. Taken together, this branch sketches a map of ideas, words, and images that have traveled far.
It can be tempting to see destiny in such heritage, as if a torch is passed genetically. I resist that impulse. Heritage is a library, not a command. Akira knows that library well, and she can borrow as she pleases.
Maternal roots The Bhabani side
On her mother’s side, the contours are more intimate and less documented, yet they carry a sense of distinct identity. Akira’s maternal grandfather’s name appears in public accounts as Ashesh or Ashish Bhabani, and her maternal grandmother is Ann Bhabani. From this lineage comes a blend of Bengali and English influences, threads that shape Adhuna’s aesthetic and by extension the world her daughters inhabit. The maternal line feels hands on, entrepreneurial, grounded in craft and service. It is a different language of creativity, one that speaks through scissors and style, texture and color.
Privacy and public glimpses
Here is what I can say with confidence. Akira does not have public professional credits, business ventures, or widely reported projects. She appears mostly in family contexts. Birthday posts. Festival frames. Occasional features that discuss co parenting and fatherhood. In 2022 Farhan remarried, to host and performer Shibani Dandekar. Akira remains woven into this extended family, present in snapshots that look like normal life. No controversy surrounds her in credible reporting. And that feels right. Youth deserves room to grow without a headline.
If you follow the family long enough, a pattern emerges. Private routine, public affection, and a firm boundary between the two. It is a blueprint more families in the spotlight could comfortably adopt.
Timeline highlights
- 2000: Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Bhabani marry.
- Early 2000s: Their elder daughter, Shakya, is born.
- Around 2007: Akira is born.
- 2016: Farhan and Adhuna announce their separation.
- 2017: Divorce is finalized, with custody reported as being with Adhuna.
- 2018 onward: The daughters largely remain out of the spotlight, appearing in family posts and occasional features.
- 2022: Farhan marries Shibani Dandekar, expanding the family circle.
- 2025: Farhan publicly celebrates Akira’s 18th birthday.
Names and nuances
Names in public narratives often carry small variations. Akira’s maternal grandfather’s first name is listed variably as Ashesh or Ashish in different accounts. The family tree also includes step relationships, such as Shabana Azmi on the paternal side, a towering presence in Indian cinema and theater. These nuances are normal in extended families and biographical summaries. The core remains the same. Akira belongs to a wide, richly creative network, and she is loved.
What is known and what is not
I keep two baskets when writing about private young people. In one basket I place verified and modest facts. In the other I place everything else, and I shut the lid. For Akira, the verified basket includes her parents, grandparents, aunt, sister, a birth year around 2007, and the broad strokes of her parents’ timeline. The closed basket holds exact date details, private schooling information, specific hobbies beyond family anecdotes, and any speculation about career or net worth. Some things can wait until they are shared by choice.
FAQ
Who are Akira Akhtar’s parents?
Akira’s parents are Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar. Farhan is a filmmaker, actor, producer, and singer. Adhuna is a hairstylist and entrepreneur known for pioneering modern salon culture.
Does Akira have siblings?
Yes. Akira has an older sister named Shakya. Public glimpses show a close, understated bond between them.
When was Akira born?
Akira was born around 2007. Her father publicly celebrated her 18th birthday in 2025, which aligns with that timeframe.
What is known about her grandparents?
On the paternal side, her grandparents are Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. On the maternal side, her grandparents are listed as Ashesh or Ashish Bhabani and Ann Bhabani.
Is Akira pursuing a public career?
There are no verified public professional credits or projects attributed to Akira. She appears exclusively in family contexts and keeps a low profile.
What happened after her parents separated?
Farhan and Adhuna announced their separation in 2016 and finalized their divorce in 2017. Custody of the daughters was reported as being with Adhuna, while both parents have emphasized respectful co parenting.
Is she active on social media?
Public reporting does not identify a prominent personal account for Akira. She is occasionally seen in posts by family members, such as birthday tributes or festival photos.
Who is part of her extended family?
The extended family includes her aunt Zoya Akhtar, a prominent filmmaker, and on the paternal side a broader network connected to Indian cinema. Farhan’s marriage to Shibani Dandekar in 2022 adds another layer to the family circle.
