Salim Akhtar was a renowned producer in Hindi as well as Bengali films. He floated his production banner ‘Aftab Pictures’ in 1980 under which he produced his first film ‘Choron Ki Baaraat’ which was followed by several notable films such as ‘Qayamat’ (1983), ‘Loha’ (1987), ‘Batwara’ (1989), ‘Doodh Ka Karz’ (1990), ‘Izzat’ (1991), ‘Jigar’ (1992), ‘Phool Aur Angaar’ (1993), ‘Aadmi’ (1993), ‘Baazi’ (1995), ‘The Don’ (1995), ‘Badal’ (2000) and the Rani Mukerji starrer, ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat’ in 1997. His last produced film was ‘Daal Roti’ which was released in 2025. He breathed his last in Mumbai on 8 April 2025.