Zoya Akhtar | Movies Birthday Biography Director Age Net Worth

Know about Zoya Akhtar’s age, family, biography, relationships, and career. Keep reading more to get interesting facts about, Zoya Akhtar

Profile Summary

Zoya Akhtar’s Biography

Hindi-language film director and screenwriter Zoya Akhtar's birthdate is October 14 1972. Zoya Akhtar’s birthplace is in Mumbai Maharashtra. After earning a certificate in filmmaking from NYU she worked as a director's assistant for Mira Nair Tony Gerber and Dev Benegal before going on to become a writer and director. Akhtar has won numerous honours including four Filmfare Awards. In October 2015 Zoya and Reema Kagti established Tiger Baby Films a production company for movies and websites. Zoya Akhtar's zodiac sign is Libra. Zoya Akhtar’s hobbies are writing reading and traveling. 

She has directed episodes of Bombay Talkies and the films Luck by Chance (2009) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Sheila Ki Jawani (2013). Talaash (2012) was co-written by her and Reema Kagti. She then went on to direct Gully Boy (2015) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015). (2019).

One of the nation's most talented film families is where Zoya Akhtar is from. She worked as a director's assistant for Mira Nair Tony Gerber and Dev Benegal after earning a diploma in cinema from NYU before going on to establish herself as a writer-director.

Zoya Akhtar’s Family

Zoya Akhtar’s father is Javed Akhtar a poet lyricist and screenwriter Zoya Akhtar’s mother is Honey Irani a screenwriter. Zoya Akhtar’s stepmother is Shabana Azmi an actress. Zoya Akhtar’s younger brother Farhan Akhtar is an actor and filmmaker. 

Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi a scholar of Islamic studies and theology edited Mirza Ghalib's first diwan at his request and later rose to prominence in his native Khairabad during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

She is the granddaughter of the poet Jan Nisar Akhtar and the great-granddaughter of the Urdu poet Muztar Khairabadi. Along with her brother Farhan and father Javed Akhtar Akhtar grew up in an agnostic atmosphere.                  

Zoya Akhtar’s Education

Zoya Akhtar went to Maneckji Cooper and St. Xavier's College both in Mumbai where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Later she enrolled at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University to study filmmaking.

Zoya Akhtar Boyfriends

Sharic Sequeira

After posting a mysterious message on social media producer Zoya Akhtar left us perplexed. Unseen photos of Zoya with producer and assistant director Sharic Sequeira were accidentally released by a friend of Zoya's. The unseen photo was posted on Instagram by a mutual acquaintance of the Gully Boy director and Sequeira with whom it appears they enjoyed dinner.

But the director's note underneath the post confused us. Just married Zoya Akhtar tweeted in response to the image. It is still unknown whether the remark was an inside joke or proof that the two were secretly married. This has not been formally confirmed by either party. Furthermore Sequiera's most recent Instagram tale only fuels the fire. He released the secret image of the two along with an emoticon of a red rose. Sharic Sequeira is a producer and assistant director who resides in India. He is well-known for allegedly being Zoya Akhtar an Indian film director.

Zoya Akhtar’s Movies and Career

Zoya Akhtar began her career as a co-director of the rock band Pentagram's Price of Bullets music video. She served as an assistant director for her brother Farhan Akhtar's films Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya as well as a casting director for movies like Split Wide Open (1999) and Dil Chahta Hai (2001). (2004). With Luck by Chance (2009) which also starred Konkona Sen Sharma and her brother Farhan Akhtar Akhtar made her directorial debut. It chronicles the tale of a struggling actor making it big in the business. Despite doing poorly at the box office the movie earned positive reviews from reviewers.

Luck By chance (2009)

An Indian drama film in the Hindi language called Luck by Chance was written and directed by Zoya Akhtar in 2009. Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen Sharma play the key roles in this Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani production. Supporting cast members include Rishi Kapoor Dimple Kapadia Juhi Chawla Hrithik Roshan Sanjay Kapoor Isha Sharvani Alyy Khan and Sheeba Chaddha. 

The movie follows the journey of an aspiring actor who travels to Mumbai with hopes of becoming a Hollywood superstar. The story is about how he ends up riding his riches to become one while battling to maintain his connections. Luck by Chance which was published on January 30th 2009 had a mediocre level of commercial success. However it won rave reviews from critics who praised the cast's performances as well as the film's original premise plot and writing. 

Luck by Chance garnered five nominations for the 55th Filmfare Awards including Best Supporting Actor (Rishi) and Best Supporting Actress (Kapadia) and took home Best Debut Director (Zoya tying with Ayan Mukerji for Wake Up Sid). The movie which debuted on January 30 2009 was well-received by critics but underperformed at the box office.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Play

It is a 2011 Hindi-language buddy road comedy-drama film that stars Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the Excel Entertainment banner produced and directed by Zoya Akhtar. On a 45-crore rupee budget it was shot in Spain India Egypt and the United Kingdom. Javed Akhtar wrote the words and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy created the music and background score. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was supposed to be released on May 27 2011. However post-production issues caused it to be delayed twice first to June 24 and again to July 15.

A critical and financial triumph the movie was released on 1 800 screens throughout the world and earned $1.53 billion. It was praised for its actors plot screenplay music humour and director. Numerous prizes including two National Film Awards were nominated for and won by the movie. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video now offer the movie.

The subjects of the movie are Arjun Kabir and Imran three childhood friends who re-join for a three-week road trip. When they arrive in Spain they meet Laila who falls for Arjun and aids him in overcoming his need to work. Laila helps them both. Imran wants to meet his artist’s biological father while Kabir and Natasha his fiancée have serious disagreements. Each friend selects a risky activity for the group to engage in while on vacation.

Bombay Talkies (2013)

Four short films each directed by a different Indian filmmaker (Karan Johar Dibakar Banerjee Zoya Akhtar or Anurag Kashyap) combine to make the 2013 anthology film Bombay Talkies. The movie premiered on May 3 2013 marking the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema and the start of a new era in contemporary cinema. It was shown on May 17 2013 at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. 

Bombay Talkies the first of three anthology movies by Johar Banerjee Akhtar and Kashyap will be followed by Lust Stories in 2018 and Ghost Stories in 2020 both of which will be available on Netflix.

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

The film is in Hindi and was produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the Excel Entertainment label and was directed by Zoya Akhtar. Anil Kapoor Shefali Shah Priyanka Chopra Ranveer Singh Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar all play key roles in the ensemble drama which also features Aamir Khan as the voice of Pluto the family dog who serves as the movie's narrator. Javed Akhtar wrote the lyrics and the music for the film was composed by the group Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. On June 5 2015 the movie received favourable reviews from critics who commended Akhtar's direction the movie's music photography and costuming as well as the performances of Kapoor Shah Chopra and Singh who played the Mehra family members.

A critical and financial triumph the movie made $1.45 billion at the box office on a $580 million production and marketing budget. Additionally it received a lot of honors. At the 61st Filmfare Awards Dil Dhadakne Do garnered five nominations with Kapoor taking home the prize for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally it was nominated for nine 2016 Screen Awards including Best Film and Best Director and took home two prizes—Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actor for Kapoor. The movie is currently accessible on Netflix.

The movie was envisioned by Zoya as a family drama centered on a brother-sister bond. In contrast to Bollywood's questionable and extravagant portrayals of siblings she wanted to show a more realistic one.

Lust Stories (2018)

Based on the idea of the 2013 anthology film Bombay Talkies this movie consists of four short film parts directed by Anurag Kashyap Zoya Akhtar Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar. The movie boasts an ensemble cast that includes Radhika Apte Bhumi Pednekar Manisha Koirala and Kiara Advani along with Akash Thosar Vicky Kaushal Neha Dhupia and others. It is co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP and Ashi Dua of Flying Unicorn Entertainment.

Based on the idea of the 2013 anthology film Bombay Talkies this movie consists of four short film parts directed by Anurag Kashyap Zoya Akhtar Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar. The movie boasts an ensemble cast that includes Radhika Apte Bhumi Pednekar Manisha Koirala and Kiara Advani along with Akash Thosar Vicky Kaushal Neha Dhupia and others. It is co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP and Ashi Dua of Flying Unicorn Entertainment.

Gully Boy (2019)

Play

The screenplay for the movie was co-written by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. Under the auspices of Tiger Baby Films and Excel Entertainment Productions Ritesh Sidhwani Farhan Akhtar and Akhtar produced the movie. American rapper Nas served as executive producer. Along with Alia Bhatt Kalki Koechlin Siddhant Chaturvedi Vijay Varma Amruta Subhash and Vijay Raaz in supporting roles it stars Ranveer Singh as the film's title character. The movie is a coming-of-age tale of aspiring street rapper Murad Ahmed (Singh) from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai who was inspired by the lifestyles of Indian rappers DIVINE and Naezy.

Gully Boy became the second movie to win all four acting categories 21 years after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai winning a record 13 Filmfare Prizes the most for a single film in a year. These awards were for Best Film Best Director Best Actor (Singh) and Best Actress (Bhatt) (1998). It received the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea. It was also chosen as India's submission for the 92nd Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category although it did not receive a nomination.

Made in Heaven (2019)

An Indian romantic drama web series called Made in Heaven debuted on Amazon Prime Video on March 8 of this year. The Excel Entertainment-produced show follows the lives of Tara and Karan two Delhi-based wedding planners who operate the Made in Heaven company. The show was conceived by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti and it was co-written by Alankrita Shrivastava. For the nine episodes of the first season Akhtar Shrivastava Nitya Mehra and Prashant Nair served as the directors.

Ghost stories (2020)

A 2020 Indian anthology horror film in the Hindi language Ghost Stories consists of four short film episodes produced by Karan Johar Dibakar Banerjee Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap. Working under the production labels RSVP Movies and Flying Unicorn Entertainment respectively they co-produced it. Ghost Stories is the third of three anthology movies by Johar Banerjee Akhtar and Kashyap. Bombay Talkies and Lust Stories both of which were released in 2013 and 2018 and are also available on Netflix came before Ghost Stories.

Zoya Akhtar Upcoming Movies/Web Series

The Archies (2023)

Play

The cast for Zoya Akhtar's upcoming Indian musical drama The Archies on Netflix has been announced. The ensemble features up-and-coming actors like Mihir Ahuja (Bard of Blood) Khushi Kapoor (The Garhwal Rifles) and Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana Khan in a supporting role. They all portray characters from the venerable Archie Comics brand.

The movie which is set in the 1960s will also star Vedang Raina Yuvraj Menda Dot and Agastya Nanda. A new video introducing the characters provides a sneak peek into the universe that Akhtar promises to bring to life for viewers everywhere.

The movie produced by Akhtar's Tiger Baby Films is described by Netflix as a musical experience filled with youth rebellion friendships first loves and everything young adult. It nevertheless promises to have something for every generation. In 2023 it is scheduled to debut on the streamer. Gully Boy a popular 2020 Bollywood musical romantic film with a hip-hop culture theme was directed by Akhtar.

The Archies will enter the fiercely competitive Indian streaming market for Netflix India. Recently important film and television projects featuring prominent actors from the multilingual nation have been launched by ZEE5 and Amazon Prime Video. For instance Akhtar and Tiger Baby co-founder Reema Kagti are collaborating with Excel Media to create the serial killer drama Dahaar for Amazon.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan

The movie is written by Arjun Varain Singh Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar and is directed by Arjun Varain Singh. The movie which was produced by the latter two is scheduled for release in 2023 giving us roughly two years to maintain the anticipation. Because of the fact that the picture...abhi baaki hai mere dost we are surely anticipating it! 

The trio are dancing lounging and enjoying themselves but what stands out most is how frequently they are seen returning to their phones sometimes known as the technology monster. It seems very clear what the main plot of the movie might be based on the title Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and the narrative of three kids surrounded by digital toys.

It appears that for the second time in a row Zoya is betting on Siddhant. Even with Adarsh the selection is not shocking given that The White Tiger his critically acclaimed debut picture was made by the family production company Excel Entertainment. Ananya perfectly embodies the subject of bringing the fellowship of three children of a similar age to the big screen.

Jee Le Zara

With actresses Alia Bhatt Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra Bollywood director Farhan Akhtar announced Jee Le Zaraa earlier this year which instantly went viral online.

The movie will be Farhan Akhtar's comeback project as a director and will centre on an all-female road trip. The public was excited to watch Bhatt Kaif and Chopra together for the first time because of the announcement but Zoya Akhtar the film's writer has now disclosed how the three actresses were recruited for the project.

Farhan Akhtar has unveiled his new road trip movie Jee Le Zaraa which stars three A-list actresses—Alia Bhatt Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra—and was written by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. The information that three strong women were joining forces for the ambitious Excel Production movie Jee Le Zaraa quickly went viral online.

Zoya Akhtar’s Career Timeline

Zoya Akhtar’s Controversies

Controversy with Kangana Ranaut

A few days after Kangana Ranaut made fun of Zoya Akhtar and her movie Gully Boy the director has now spoken her opinion. When asked if she'd ever welcome Kangana to her events she responded that she shouldn't be putting her in that situation because Kangana had publicly stated that she didn't enjoy her work on every platform.

Kangana poked fun at the awards season haul of Zoya's Gully Boy starring Ranveer Singh Alia Bhatt and Siddhant Chaturvedi and claimed that Sushant Singh Rajput's Chichhore was much more deserving. Zoya voiced her opinion on the subject and questioned why Ranaut continued bringing up award shows when she had boycotted them herself.

She responded Not at all because I didn't go to the award ceremonies for starters and it's not significant when asked if she was disturbed by these charges. I'm not sure why she keeps bringing up the prizes when she has abstained. The director added that she shouldn't take offense because she picked a career in which there would always be critics of her work.

Controversy on Azaadi song of Gully Boy

Aazadi The words Manuvad se and Aazadi Brahmanvaad se were among the lyrics. However they are not included in the Gully Boy tune which has changed the original. According to Zoya the lyrics were modified to fit the storyline and characters in the movie.

In my narrative I discuss feeling oppressed by your class. It concerns economic inequality or the gap between the rich and the poor. I symbolize my character's perspective his interaction with society his socioeconomic situation and his rage. Neither JNU nor the caste system are topics of my movie.Before the movie's release the director was giving an interview to a press organization. Freedom is a term that was used long before JNU and will continue to be used according to Akhtar.

Zoya Akhtar’s Net Worth

Zoya was born on October 14 1972 to screenwriter Honey Irani and poet lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar. She shares the same profession as her younger brother Farhan Akhtar who is also an actor singer and producer. After her parents' separated her father married Shabana Azmi a seasoned actress in 1984. 

Zoya finished her education at Maneckji Cooper High School before continuing on to St. Xavier's College to pursue her interest in the arts. She pursued a career in filmmaking after graduating from the New York University Film School.

Zoya Akhtar is a celebrated Indian film director producer and screenwriter who is best known for the 2011 coming-of-age drama Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Zoya Akhtar has received numerous awards for her work in the Hindi film industry. An Indian director named Zoya Akhtar has a $10 million fortune. She has an Audi car.                                             

Zoya Akhtar’s Awards and Achievements

Filmfare Awards

• 2020 Best Film Gully Boy
• 2020 Best Director Gully Boy
• 2020 Best Music Album Gully Boy
• 2020 Best Screenplay Gully Boy
• 2012 Best Director Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
• 2010 Best Newcomer – Director Luck by Chance

Zee Cine Awards

• 2020 Best Director Gully Boy
• 2012 Best Film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

10 Interesting Facts about Zoya Akhtar

• Zoya Akhtar did not smoke but consuming alcohol. 
• When she was 13-year-old her father divorced her mother and married with Shabana Azmi. 
• She grew up in an agnostic environment where she does not believe in any religion. 
• She started her career as co-director of a music video prince of bullets for a rock band called Pentagram. 
• She has also worked as a casting director for films including Dil Chahta Hai split wide open and as an assistant director for her brother Farhan Akhtar’s film Lakshya Dil Chahta Hai. 
• In 2011 she directed Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara which turned out to be a huge box office success and was well received by critics. 
• She is a dog lover and has a pet dog named Zen. 
• She grew up in an agnostic household and does not practise any religion.
• She is the great-granddaughter of famed Urdu poet Muztar Khairabadi and Jan Nisar Akhtar's granddaughter.
• Her great-great-grandfather Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi an Islamic studies and theology expert edited Mirza Ghalib's first diwan at his request and later became an influential player during the Indian Freedom Revolution of 1857 in his native Khairabad.
• She began her career as a co-director on the music video "Price of Bullets" for the rock band Pentagram.

Social Media