Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar believes writing should come from a place of personal conviction rather than market trends. Speaking at a special screenwriting workshop organised by Whistling Woods International in association with the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA), the acclaimed writer-director—known for films like Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Gully Boy—said she does not try to anticipate industry trends and instead focuses on stories that feel authentic to her.
Zoya Akhtar on the future of Indian cinema
The workshop, conducted by veteran writer Anjum Rajabali, featured a deep-dive masterclass with Zoya about her career, creative choices and writing process. When asked what the next five years for India might look like and what themes aspiring writers should explore, Zoya said she does not approach writing based on what the industry is currently seeking. However, she added that storytelling trends often move in cycles and suggested that love stories could make a comeback.
Her observation reflects a shift already visible in the industry, with romantic films regaining popularity at the box office. Several love stories are also slated for release in 2026, including filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s next theatrical outing starring Diljit Dosanjh.
Zoya`s upcoming projects
Zoya also revealed that she is currently working on two screenplays. She shared that Dahaad Season 2 is currently being shot by filmmaker Reema Kagti. Apart from that, she is writing two screenplays for herself and developing several scripts with other directors for potential production.
When asked about the possibility of a sequel to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Zoya responded with a smile, saying, “When it happens, I’ll announce it.”
The filmmaker also shared an anecdote about her writing process during her debut film Luck By Chance. She revealed that she once expanded a one-line outline directly into a screenplay without editing it first, resulting in a massive 200–300-page draft.
According to Zoya, the script was eventually refined with the help of Reema Kagti. At the time, Kagti was working on Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. while Zoya was developing Luck By Chance. After reading the draft, Kagti encouraged her to trim the story, leading them to remove several scenes and characters to shape the final screenplay.
Zoya said her process has since evolved. She now writes a one-line outline, edits it thoroughly and only then moves on to the screenplay stage to ensure the story remains concise and focused.
