Fifteen years after its release on July 15, 2011, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara remains one of Hindi cinema's most beloved coming-of-age films. More than a road trip across Spain, Zoya Akhtar's film captured the anxieties of adulthood, power of friendship and being true to yourself. Those themes continue to resonate across generations, making the film as relevant today as it was when it first hit theatres.
Starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol as three friends embarking on a transformative journey, with Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin in pivotal roles, the film has only grown in stature over the years.
Looking back, Kalki Koechlin believes its enduring appeal lies in its celebration of friendship. "Movies about friendship stand the test of time, like Dil Chahta Hai, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and even Friends. There's something about friendship that's quite eternal. I think we all experience our lives through our friends because even your partner comes quite late in life, but your friends are there throughout. Good friendship is something that stands the test of time, as does this film," she tells The Hollywood Reporter India.
When Zoya Akhtar offered her the role of Natasha, the controlling, possessive fiancée of Abhay Deol's Kabir, Koechlin says she didn't think twice. "It was early on in my career. I was just so happy to be working with Zoya. I found Natasha hilarious. She's obviously slightly high-strung and a little problematic. I enjoyed playing the role very much. Zoya has a great sense of timing, which really comes out in the script. And I also loved all the beautiful clothes and, of course, Bagwati," she says with a laugh.
Fifteen years later, does she view Natasha differently? "I've always found Natasha's character to be quite problematic. She doesn't trust her partner and wants to control everything. But at the same time, she's asking for certain things which he's not capable of giving her. In a way, she lets go of something that is not working for her. I don't think she's a perfect character. I definitely think she's problematic. But there is enough humanity in her that she never becomes a caricature. She stands her ground and says, 'No, this is not what I want.'"
The film also proved to be a turning point in Koechlin's career, arriving on the heels of her breakout turns in Dev.D and Shaitaan. “It was huge," she recalls. "I got Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani after that. It was a wonderful film to get so early on in my career. And ZNMD is such a fun watch, even today after 15 years. Often people talk about the 'rock chick' scene in the car when they meet me and sing it back to me. ZNMD had a lot of play and fun in it, which is important even when you're talking about serious subjects."
Much of the film was shot in Spain, and Koechlin recalls the schedule feeling less like work and more like an extended holiday. "Shooting in Spain was wonderful. It was like a big holiday for us. Every night we were eating delicious Spanish food at a different restaurant. What was fun was that because we were in a foreign country with not so many Indians around, there was a sense of freedom for all of us. If we were shooting in a big city like Mumbai, we'd need security because there would be crowds everywhere. But in Spain, there was none of that. We could spend time together instead of hiding in our vans. That accessibility to each other helped us connect and relax. It was really nice."
With Bollywood increasingly embracing sequels and franchises, fans have often campaigned for a second round of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Koechlin isn't opposed to the idea, as long as it has a compelling reason to exist.
"It's one of those films that people are dying to have a second part. There's a lot of demand for that. I'm always open to it if there's a good plotline and a good reason to make a sequel. The story has to grow with the actors. If the actors have aged, then the story has to move forward," she says.