22 Facts About Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar was born on 14 October 1972 and is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi films and series.

Zoya Akhtar is the recipient of several accolades, including four Filmfare Awards.

Zoya Akhtar made her directorial debut with the drama Luck by Chance, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director.

Zoya Akhtar achieved her breakthrough with the comedy-drama Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Director.

Zoya Akhtar has since directed the comedy-drama Dil Dhadakne Do, segments in the anthology films Lust Stories and Ghost Stories, and the musical drama Gully Boy, which won her a second Filmfare Award for Best Director.

Zoya Akhtar has worked on the streaming drama series Made in Heaven and the crime thriller series Dahaad.

Zoya Akhtar was born to poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Zoya Akhtar and screenwriter Honey Irani.

Zoya Akhtar's younger brother, Farhan Akhtar, is an actor and director.

Zoya Akhtar attended Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St Xavier's College, both from Mumbai.

Zoya Akhtar grew up in an atheist environment and along with her brother Farhan and father Javed, and does not believe in any religion.

Zoya Akhtar started her career as the co-director of a music video called Price of Bullets for a rock band called Pentagram.

Zoya Akhtar has worked as a casting director for films including the drama Split Wide Open and the ensemble coming-of-age comedy-drama Dil Chahta Hai, and as an assistant director for her brother Farhan Akhtar's films Dil Chahta Hai and the coming-of-age war drama Lakshya.

Zoya Akhtar then worked as an executive producer for her longtime friend and associate Reema Kagti's comedy-drama Honeymoon Travels Pvt.

Zoya Akhtar made her directorial debut with the drama Luck By Chance, starring her brother Farhan and Konkona Sen Sharma in lead roles.

In 2013, Zoya Akhtar teamed up with Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar for the anthology film Bombay Talkies.

Zoya Akhtar's segment titled Sheila Ki Jawaani, told the story of a 12-year-old child who idolised Hindi film actress Katrina Kaif and aspires to be a Bollywood dancer, earned her positive reviews from critics.

Zoya Akhtar next directed the family comedy-drama Dil Dhadakne Do, which told the story of a dysfunctional Punjabi family.

In 2019, Zoya Akhtar directed the musical drama Gully Boy starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in lead roles.

Zoya Akhtar was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Zoya Akhtar next directed the live-action feature film adaptation of The Archies which released on Netflix on 7 December 2023.

Zoya Akhtar appeared on the Valentine's Day charity show of Kaun Banega Crorepati along with her brother Farhan Akhtar.

Zoya Akhtar appeared in a very brief role as Rasa Devi's courtesan in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love in September 1996.