By Hindustan Times
Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) proved to be some of the biggest films of 2011. Besides the box office success, it won at practically each award ceremony this year, including the National Awards.
Understandably, Zoya and her assistant director at the film, Reema Kagti, are ecstatic about ZNMD being nominated once again, this time for ‘best story’ on the forthcoming IIFA Awards. Zoya says, “It feels great. It’s the last award ceremony of the year, and we’re hoping for the best.”
What made ZNMD so popular? Zoya says, “From the feedback I received, the audience connected with the idea that you’ve got to enjoy life to the fullest, and profit from what you have.” In fact, she admits that almost all people saw her first film, Luck By accident (LBC, 2009) only after ZNMD.
What was common to both Zoya’s films was an ensemble cast. Was it challenging to assemble such a lot of stars? “LBC had a larger star cast. But no, it wasn’t very difficult. And honestly, it’s the more, the merrier for me. I REALLY LIKE working with an ensemble cast,” she says.
Both her films also found their audience with a tender crowd. Ask Zoya if that was a conscious decision on the outset, and he or she says, “Yes, both the flicks have an excessively young feel to
them, but they’re also family entertainers. I don’t write a narrative in line with any particular theme.”
Reema Kagti, who co-wrote ZNMD with Zoya, adds, “A story is not only about what people will like. We need to fall in love with the concept that ourselves.”
Ask Zoya what her next project goes to be, and he or she says, “We’re just starting work on a brand new script. Excluding that, I’ve done a brief film with three other directors to celebrate the centenary of Bollywood.”
