Gulzar (Sampooran Singh Kalra), Indian poet, lyricist, film director, and screenwriter, born on August 18, 1934, in Dina, Punjab, British India. Gulzar started his career as a songwriter for music director S.D. Burman in the movie ‘Bandini’ (1963). The song was “Mora Gora Ang Layle” sung by Lata Mangeshkar. His breakthrough came in 1969 with the song “Humne Dekhi Hai Un Aankhon Ki Mehekti” from ‘Khamoshi’. He has worked for many famous music directors, from R.D. Burman to A.R.Rahman. Some of his best-known lyrics are from songs such as: “Chaiyya Chaiyya” (1999), “Saathiya” (2002), “Kajra Re” (2006), “Jai Ho” (2008) which won a Grammy and an Oscar, “Tere Bina” (2008), “Dhan Te Nan” (2010), and “Challa” (2013). Still an active lyricist, his most recent songs have been for movies such as: ‘Raazi’, Bioscopewala’ and ‘Soorma’ in 2018, and ‘Mere Pyaare Prime Minister’, and ‘The Sky Is Pink’ in 2019. Gulzar has also written dialogues and screenplays for such films as ‘Anand’ and ‘Khamoshi’. He made his directorial debut in ‘Mere Apne’ in 1971. In 1975, Gulzar won a National Film Award for ‘Mausam’ and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie for ‘Aandhi’. In 1996, he won a National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment with ‘Maachis’. In 2002, he was awarded a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2013, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Gulzar received a Padma Bhushan from the government of India in 2004. He has published many books of poems and short stories. Gulzar is married to actress Raakhee and their daughter, Meghna Gulzar, is a film director. Gulzar is currently the Chancellor of Assam University.