Zoya Akhtar – 15 years of being a distinct voice among filmmakers

Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has completed 15 years in the industry. To mark this occasion, PVR Cinema, which has redeveloped and opened a new property – PVR Lido – in Mumbai, will be showcasing Zoya’s films in the theatre for the next few days. Both Zoya and her brother Farhan Akhtar, along with director Reema Kagti and PVR INOX’s Managing Director Ajay Bijli were present for the launch.

Speaking about the idea of having The Zoya Retrospective, Zoya said, “My office told me about this and I got really excited as coincidentally it was happening on the same day when ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ is completing nine years. But in one aspect I thought about the retrospective I like done and another part of me was jumping with joy that my films are going to be on the big screen. It is very exciting and I am really grateful for this. The fact that the first thing I wanted to be was awesome, today I am still making movies, I still have a job. I love what I do. I love Cinema. This industry has got all my heart. I don’t want to be anywhere else, but here. I am very happy to be here.”

Looking back at her 15-year journey in the industry, Zoya said, “It is exciting  as this theatre (PVR Lido) was earlier a single screen theatre, which Farhan and I used to cross every day on our way to school. Today, to be actually here as a filmmaker in this industry for almost 15 years, is surreal. Today also marks 9 years of ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’. I want to thank Mr Bijli and Mr Sanjay Gupta for giving the best birthday gift by playing our film back on the screen. It really takes something to develop a space. To be able to play films that have happened, to put festival films out and to keep the culture of cinema going. We are the capital of the film industry here. To enable the youth to be able to watch older films that may have happened before their time on the big screen is really a gift.”

When asked about her favourite films from her filmography, Zoya replied, “I think the first one is always special, there are two first ones here – ‘Luck By Chance’ the first film that I directed, and ‘Talaash’, I and Reema Kagti wrote together. ‘Luck By Chance’ was our first collaboration with Farhan as an actor, while ‘Talaash’ was my first collaboration as a writer with Reema.”

Meanwhile, reminiscing about his visits to theatre during school days, Farhan said, “I want to thank Ajay for really being a torch bearer when it comes to encouraging people to come to theatres and making it a pleasurable, comfortable experience. Something memorable is time and money worth spending. During the pandemic period, we used to discuss whether people would return to the theatres, since they had gotten used to watching content at home. Therefore, it was very heartening to see people returning to the theatres in huge numbers post-pandemic, because it is something Indian people culturally just enjoy – coming to a movie theatre, sitting with strangers and experiencing something together.”

“This theatre (PVR Lido) was very close to our school. I remember watching the film ‘Gandhi’ here. Our school had brought us to see some films here. There are very fond memories, and it is very nostalgic to be back here,” he added.

Praising his sister, Farhan said, “Zoya is a very distinct voice in today’s landscape of filmmakers. She has her own style, own way of writing, directing and presenting a film, which is very unique to her. Honestly, as a collaborator, producer and brother and somebody who is a flag bearer of wherever she goes, I couldn’t be happier or proud.”

Recalling the experience of working in Zoya’s first film, Farhan said, “Zoya and I have been working with each other since the ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ days. She was involved with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, ‘Lakshya’ and a lot of other films of Excel, so it was not something that surprised me. It felt like a natural and organic extension from what she was doing before coming into writing and directing. I was very comfortable on the sets. I knew what she was doing and what she wanted in particular performance wise so I was just doing my part.”

Explaining why he chose to do a retrospective festival with Zoya, Ajay Bijli said, “Ritesh is being missed here from ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ till today. Zoya’s films and her body of work is incredible, so it had to be done. Normally, you can’t do retroactive just like that, you do it for somebody who has done incredible work. So, after 15 years since the release of ‘Luck By Chance’ – and even though she has many, many years of work left to be done – I thought it was something worth celebrating.”