A viral video from Javed Akhtar’s 80th birthday celebration on January 19, 2025, features Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, and Shankar Mahadevan performing the Dil Chahta Hai title track.

The intimate event, held in Khandala, was attended by several Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

In the video, Shankar Mahadevan, who originally sang the track, is joined by Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar. The trio performs the song, bringing back memories of the film. The performance quickly gains attention online, with fans expressing their appreciation for the moment.

Dil Chahta Hai (2001) is known for portraying friendship and life transitions. Directed by Farhan Akhtar, it featured Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna. The film remains one of the most celebrated in Bollywood, with its music, including the title track.

While the performance was warmly received, some fans couldn’t help but express their longing for the film’s original stars, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna. Comments flooded social media, with fans writing, “So missing Saif here,” and “Where is Akshay in this?” One user even referred to the moment as “the concert I wanna be near :(.”

Photo: ScreenGrab

In her Instagram post, Urmila gave fans a glimpse of the star-studded celebration, which included pictures with Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and others.

One frame captured Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, and Shankar Mahadevan singing “Happy Birthday” to Javed Akhtar. Urmila expressed her affection for the gathering, describing it as “an afternoon full of love, laughter, affection, admiration, and great camaraderie.”

Javed Akhtar’s 80th birthday was marked by tributes from industry peers, acknowledging his significant contribution to Indian cinema through his work in films like Sholay, Silsila, and Deewar.