Feb 06, 2026 3:00pm IST
Zoya Akhtar And Reema Kagti Aren’t Scared Of Filmmaking Process: ‘You Prep As Much As You Can And Hope For The Best’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti are counted among the best contemporary Indian filmmakers, and their filmography, “Luck By Chance”, “Talaash”, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, “Dil Dhadakne Do”, “Gully Boy” and “Superboys of Malegoan” is testimony to their enviable body of cinematic work.
Known to follow an off-the-beaten-track approach to filmmaking, the duo, both master storytellers, says the process does not scare them, but they take care to prepare for all the challenges they could possibly face on the movie sets.
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While talking to Variety India, we asked them, ‘Which project scared them the most while making it?’ Zoya replied, “There's no scare. Every film comes with its own challenges. And I mean making any kind of film, whether it's a documentary, has its variables. And it has a set of challenges unique to that film. So you just get in there, prep as much as you can and hope for the best.”
Seconding Zoya’s thoughts, Reema also emphasized that the filmmaking process is ‘exciting’ for her. When asked whether ‘the industry has finally caught up with the kind of stories that you've wanted to tell or you have simply learned how to navigate it better?’ Kagti responded, “It's hard to make big statements like this. But I think that we try and remain authentic to ourselves and tell stories that mean something to you.”
Zoya and Reema are, at present, busy with the second season of their show “Dahaad”, featuring Sonakshi Sinha and Gulshan Devaiah in prominent roles. The Amazon Prime Video show recently went on floors.
The first season, which was released in 2023, had garnered rave reviews and was the first-ever Indian streaming series to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.
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