Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has said a sequel to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is being worked on as the film completes 15 years. Speaking at the Monsoon Film Festival, she confirmed that the team is exploring a follow-up, while making it clear that the process is still at an early stage.
The conversation around a second film had picked up again after Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar reunited for a 2025 advertisement for Yas Island. The reunion left many viewers nostalgic for Arjun, Kabir and Imran, and led to speculation that Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 was on the way.
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In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter at the Monsoon Film Festival, Zoya said a sequel is being considered. “We are on it,” she said, adding, “We don’t know what will happen and what won’t if we will get to a place where it feels correct, in catching up with these characters today. But it will be nice.”
She also addressed the reaction to the 2025 commercial featuring Hrithik, Abhay and Farhan. “People thought it was a trailer,” she said. Recalling the excitement and the disappointment that followed, she added, “First, they were like, ‘YEAH!’ But then I got abused in my DMs saying, ‘This was not funny.’”
On criticism of her films
Zoya also spoke about the view that her films often revolve around the “angst of posh people”. While she has explored different subjects in films such as Gully Boy and Lust Stories, two of her best-known films, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do, focus on the personal conflicts and struggles of wealthy characters.
She said the criticism still surfaces, but does not affect her in the same way now. “It still comes up, but it does not bother me now. These are stories and, as a filmmaker, I get 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.”
In an earlier interview with India Today Digital, Zoya said the same people who criticise her for making films for the rich are often the ones asking her to make Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara again. “They can keep saying anything. One thing I know is that I’ve made all kinds of films. Luck By Chance was different; Lust Stories was different. I’ve made very different things,” she said.
She added, “But, the only thing that people keep telling me to remake after abusing me is ZNMD. I am very confused,” and said, “Do you want privilege or do you not want privilege? You give me a straight answer. I am very confused. Just like the film or not. Why do you care so much about anything else?”
The original film
Released in 2011, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was filmed across Spain, India and the United Kingdom. Made on a reported budget of Rs 45 crore, the film went on to earn around Rs 153 crore worldwide. It also starred Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin and Naseeruddin Shah, among others.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
