A sun-soaked ode to friendship and letting go, Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) turned 15 this year. The film starring Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar has held up as one of the most loved road trip films of Hindi cinema.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India at the Monsoon Film Festival, co-hosted by Nilaya Anthology, Akhtar spoke at length about the film's magical shoot across Spain. She also opened up about the film's much-anticipated sequel, which Akhtar is developing with longtime collaborator Reema Kagti.
Earlier this year, reports surfaced of Akhtar locking a draft of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2, which will reunite the film's leading trio. Akhtar had earlier revealed that Abhay Deol, who plays Kabir in the film, had worked out an entire story for the second instalment.
"We are on it," Akhtar confirmed when asked for an update on the sequel. "We don't know what will happen and what won't... if we will get to a place it feels correct, in catching up with these characters today. But it will be nice."
She addressed the frenzy stirred up by a 2025 commercial featuring Roshan, Deol and Farhan. The ad campaign for tourist hotspot Yas Island leaned heavily into the vibes of ZNMD, making fans nostalgic for the trio of Arjun, Kabir and Imran.
"People thought it was a trailer," Akhtar recalled. "First, they were like "YEAH!" but then I got abused in my DMs saying, 'This was not funny.'"
Akhtar also commented on the general perception that her films focus on 'posh-people angst'. While Akhtar has made films like Gully Boy and Lust Stories, two of her most successful films — Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do — explore the dysfunctions and existential aches of well-heeled characters.
"It still comes up, but it does not bother me now," Akhtar said. "These are stories and as a filmmaker I got to tell stories of all kinds of people. I totally respect it if it's something that does not resonate with you. Or these are not conflicts and complexities you are interested in. But I am interested, and so I'll make them... someone will watch them."