Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar is a director, producer and screenwriter of Hindi films and series. She is the daughter of the writers Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. She earned a diploma in filmmaking from NYU and worked as an assistant to Mira Nair, Tony Gerber and Dev Benegal before directing.

Her debut, Luck by Chance (2009), won her the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. Her breakthrough, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), won her the Filmfare for Best Director. Then came Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) and segments of the anthology films Lust Stories (2018) and Ghost Stories (2020). The musical drama Gully Boy (2019) won her a second Filmfare for Best Director.

In 2015 she and her regular collaborator Reema Kagti founded Tiger Baby Films. In streaming she has worked on Made in Heaven (2019–2023) and the crime thriller Dahaad (2023). She has won four Filmfare Awards. On this guide she directed Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy.

Her brother is the filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar. Before directing she co-directed a music video for the rock band Pentagram and worked as a casting director on films including Dil Chahta Hai (2001). She was an assistant director on her brother's Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya (2004), and an executive producer of Reema Kagti's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007). Luck by Chance starred Farhan Akhtar and Konkona Sen Sharma.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011, Hindi) was released 15 July 2011. Zoya Akhtar directed it. The cast also includes Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol.

Gully Boy (2019, Hindi) was released 14 February 2019. Zoya Akhtar directed it. The cast also includes Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Siddhant Chaturvedi.