Zoya Akhtar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zoya Akhtar
Akhtar at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1972-10-14) 14 October 1972 (age 52) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Alma mater	St. Xavier's College, Mumbai New York University Tisch School of the Arts
Occupation	Director screenwriter producer
Years active	1996–present
Organisation	Tiger Baby Films
Parent(s)	Javed Akhtar Honey Irani
Relatives	See Akhtar family

Zoya Akhtar (born October 14, 1972) is a famous Indian filmmaker. She makes movies and TV shows in Hindi language. Zoya is known for directing popular films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy. She has won many awards for her work, including four Filmfare Awards.

Zoya started her own film company called Tiger Baby Films in 2015 with her friend and fellow filmmaker, Reema Kagti.

About Zoya Akhtar's Early Life

Zoya Akhtar was born in Mumbai, India. Her father is Javed Akhtar, a well-known poet and writer. Her mother is Honey Irani, who is also a screenwriter. Zoya's stepmother is the actress Shabana Azmi. Her younger brother, Farhan Akhtar, is also a famous actor and director.

Zoya went to school in Mumbai and then studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. Later, she went to the New York University Tisch School of the Arts to learn how to make films.

Zoya Akhtar's Career Journey

Starting Out in Films (1996–2007)

Zoya began her career by helping make a music video for a rock band. She also worked as a casting director, which means she helped choose actors for films like Dil Chahta Hai (2001). She was also an assistant director for her brother Farhan's movies, including Lakshya.

Later, she became an executive producer for the movie Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007). This film was produced by Excel Entertainment, a company she often works with.

Zoya (right) with her friend and co-worker, Reema Kagti.

Becoming a Director (2009–2013)

Zoya Akhtar directed her first movie, Luck by Chance, in 2009. It starred her brother Farhan and Konkona Sen Sharma. The film was about an actor trying to make it big in the film industry. Critics really liked the movie, and Zoya won an award for Best Debut Director.

In 2011, Zoya directed Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which became a huge hit! It was a comedy-drama about three friends on a road trip. The movie starred Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, and Kalki Koechlin. It was loved by critics and audiences, earning a lot of money worldwide. Zoya won her first Filmfare Award for Best Director for this film.

In 2012, Zoya and Reema Kagti wrote the crime thriller Talaash: The Answer Lies Within. It was also a successful movie.

In 2013, Zoya directed a part of the movie Bombay Talkies. This film celebrated 100 years of Indian cinema. Her part was about a 12-year-old who dreamed of being a Bollywood dancer like Katrina Kaif.

Continued Success and New Projects (2015–Present)

Zoya Akhtar at an awards event in 2016.

Zoya's next big film was Dil Dhadakne Do (2015). This movie was about a funny, but sometimes difficult, Punjabi family on a cruise. It had a big cast, including Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, and Ranveer Singh. The film was very popular and did well at the box office.

In 2015, Zoya and Reema Kagti started their own film production company called Tiger Baby Films.

In 2019, Zoya directed the musical drama Gully Boy. This film was inspired by the lives of real-life rappers from Mumbai. It starred Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. The movie was a huge success and won many awards, including 13 Filmfare Awards! Zoya won her second Filmfare Award for Best Director for Gully Boy, making her the only female director to win it twice.

The same year, Zoya and Reema Kagti created a popular web series called Made in Heaven. It's about two wedding planners in New Delhi and is available on Amazon Prime Video. The show has been praised by critics.

Zoya was also invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is the group that gives out the Oscar awards!

In 2023, Zoya and Reema Kagti created another web series, a crime thriller called Dahaad. It was the first Indian web series to be shown at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Zoya also directed The Archies (2023), a live-action movie based on the famous comic books. It was released on Netflix. She also worked on the film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), which is a coming-of-age story about friends.

Zoya Akhtar's Films and TV Shows

Films

Television Shows

Other Appearances

Zoya has appeared on the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) with her brother Farhan. She also had a chat with Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, in 2020.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Zoya Akhtar para niños