Javed Akhtar (b. 1990, India) is a painter whose work combines realism with subtle elements of the magical to reflect states of anxiety, uncertainty and transformation, treating painting as both a method of inquiry and a sustained process of reflection.

His primary inspiration comes from the world around him, and he often explores socio-political and environmental conditions through figurative and narrative imagery. His paintings offer a whimsical and uncanny atmosphere that feels authentic, rather than simply looking real.  Rather than offering solutions to social problems, he asks the viewer to decide their own sense of reality within the work, as a single painting can hold different meanings for different people across contexts, places and times.