Gulzar is one of India’s cultural icons. He has received the highest national and international honours for his work, both in literature and films.

Gulzar is a poet, filmmaker, lyricist and writer. Born in Dina, District Jhelum, now in Pakistan, he spent his school days in Delhi and then came to Bombay. The poet in him flourished; he was closely associated with the Progressive Writers Movement. Many collections of poems, short stories and scripts have flowed from his pen. His creative repertoire also includes plays, ballets, music albums, serials as well as books for children. His works have been translated into many languages and received national and international acclaim. He had celebrated career in films. He is a seven-time recipient of the prestigious National Award as well as 21 Filmfare Awards. He won the 2002 Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Urdu Writer and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2004. He was awarded the Oscar and Grammy 2009, Award for Best Original Song ('Jai Ho' in Slumdog Millionaire), the 27th Indira Gandhi National Integration Award in 2012, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 2013 as well as a degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) from Rabindra Bharati, University of Kolkata in 2015. He has been the Chancellor of Assam University.