Zoya Akhtar Quotes

Zoya Akhtar

Profession : Director

Birth : October 14, 1972

The biggest piece is my family... From watching films like The Godfather on our dining room wall, to having a great relationship with my sibling. Or going on weekend trips with our cousins to the beach and eating all day... it's been a crazy childhood; a 'bohemian one'.

Zoya Akhtar

My biggest challenge was when I had my first panic attack at 27. It's not something you can ignore, you can't sit around and get sucked into a rabbit hole.

Zoya Akhtar

You realize you have to become aware of your inner monologue. The things you say to yourself. This raised my consciousness so it was vital to my growth, I would say.

Zoya Akhtar

Films like 'Scarface', 'The Godfather', 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' are something I can watch again and again and from anywhere. I love them so I have to make one.

Zoya Akhtar

This is kind of a dual existence where you are harsh but at the same time emotional. You are there because you have experienced trauma.

Zoya Akhtar

See I think we are nervous about every movie before it's release, irrespective of who has directed the movie.

Zoya Akhtar

We are absolutely open to working with outside directors. But the criteria for working with outside directors would be the script they have, the kind of vision they have.

Zoya Akhtar

Writing is my main interest; it is where my heart is. I always want to continue writing. Apart from that, I enjoy casting and hopefully want to direct too.

Zoya Akhtar

Well, everyone in my family is a writer. There is a big contribution on the script level by everyone.

Zoya Akhtar

My evenings are usually spent eating cake with tea, which I should stop. Then I either hang with friends or watch something. I like my evenings free because that is when I get to spend time with myself, my dogs or with friends.

Zoya Akhtar

Some of my characters are drawn from people I know whereas others are an amalgamation of people or one specific person. Sometimes a character is simply fictional. It is always a mix.

Zoya Akhtar

Most good actors you work with, they actually bring something to the creative process and to the script. They help shape the character with you. Whereas, some actors are so worried about their image and not about the character, it doesn't help the story.

Zoya Akhtar

What a good actor brings to a script is something, sometimes, even directors can't imagine. The director should always have the last say though.

Zoya Akhtar

I am thrilled and very grateful that 'Gully Boy' has been picked as India's official entry for the Oscars.

Zoya Akhtar

At the end of my life, I want to have a body of work that has everything.

Zoya Akhtar

I want to do all kind of films. I don't want to be bracketed into one kind of cinema and if somebody does that, then it is on them.

Zoya Akhtar

I have to have a story I really want to tell, and then it makes sense to put things out there. So if you see, 2018 was again crazy for me. I did 'Lust Stories', 'Made in Heaven' and 'Gully Boy'.

Zoya Akhtar

So, I have those spurts where I get completely mad because I have those stories to tell but if I don't have, I'm happy to kick back also.

Zoya Akhtar

I have friends and experience from everywhere; I've worked in all kinds of locations and situations and in all kinds of job profiles, so there's a varied experience that comes handy. And there's something nice when you do something you've to push yourself to do it.

Zoya Akhtar

There was no pressure at home regarding grades. We were expected to study and pass but luckily our parents gave us a broader education.

Zoya Akhtar