Zoya Akhtar
| Zoya Akhtar | |
|---|---|
 Zoya at the World Gaming day |
|
| Born | October 14, 1972 Bombay, India |
| Occupation | Director, Casting director |
| Years active | 1999—present |
Zoya Akhtar (Hindi: ज़ोया अख़्तर, Urdu: زویا اختر) is a contemporary Indian film director. She made her debut as director with critically acclaimed Luck By Chance.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] Personal life
Zoya Akhtar was born on October 14, 1972 in Bombay (now Mumbai). She is the daughter of poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, older sister of film director, actor, producer, director, singer, and lyricist Farhan Akhtar and granddaughter of Urdu poet Jan Nisar Akhtar. Her mother is screenwriter Honey Irani. She went to school at Maneckji Cooper and earned her Bachelors of Arts degree at Xavier's College, both in Mumbai. Later, she joined the New York University Film School to learn Film production.[3]
Zoya was brought up atheist, as her father Javed Akhtar stated in his speech "Spirituality, Halo or Hoax".[4]
[edit] Early career
Zoya has worked on a number of commercials including Pepsi and Finolex. She has co-directed a music video called Price of Bullets for a rock band. She has also worked as a casting director for various films including Dil Chahta Hai, Kamasutra: A Tale of Love and Split Wide Open, and as an assistant director for her brother Farhan's films, Lakshya (film) and Dil Chahta Hai. She then worked as an executive producer for her longtime friend Reema Kagti's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., also produced by Excel Entertainment.[3]
[edit] Direction
Zoya made her directorial debut with Luck By Chance which was well-received[1] by critics, despite not doing well at the box office.[5] Her second movie as a director is Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, a multistarrer with Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin.[6] which turned out to be a huge box office success and was well received by critics.[citation needed]
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Director
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Luck By Chance | |
| 2011 | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | Filmfare Award for Best Director |
[edit] Screenplay Writer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Luck By Chance | |
| 2011 | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | |
| 2012 | Talaash |
[edit] Story Writer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Luck By Chance | |
| 2011 | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | |
| 2012 | Talaash |
[edit] Assistant Director
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bombay Boys | |
| 2001 | Dil Chahta Hai | |
| 2004 | Lakshya |
[edit] Executive Producer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Lakshya | |
| 2007 | Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. | |
| 2009 | Luck By Chance |
[edit] Other
She appeared on the Valentine's Day charity show of Kaun Banega Crorepati along with her brother Farhan Akhtar.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Zoya Akhtar". Outlook. 2009-02-09. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?239688. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "'I'm obsessed with people'". Rediff. 2009-09-07. http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/sep/07/slide-show-1-interview-with-zoya-akhtar.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Bio of Zoya Akhtar at Excel Entertainment official site". Excel Entertainment. http://www.excelmovies.com/images/Directors/swfs/Directors_Zoya.swf. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ Spirituality, Halo or Hoax - Javedakhtar.com, Spirituality, Halo or Hoax, 26 February 2005. "There are certain things that I would like to make very clear at the very outset. Don’t get carried away by my name – Javed Akhtar. I am not revealing a secret, I am saying something that I have said many times, in writing or on TV, in public...I am an atheist, I have no religious beliefs. And obviously I don’t believe in spirituality of some kind. Some kind."
- ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Box office Top 5". Bollywood hungama. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/top5/532.html. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: Cast and Crew details". Bollywood Hungama. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/cast/14207/index.html. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ "Discuss: A Shah Rukh Valentine". Rediff. 2007-02-14. http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/feb/14kbc.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
