Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar believes storytelling should stem from personal conviction rather than changing market trends. Speaking at a screenwriting workshop organised by Whistling Woods International in collaboration with the Screenwriters Association of India, the director reflected on evolving film trends and her own writing process.

Zoya Akhtar predicts return of love stories in Bollywood, breaks silence on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2 2 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama

Zoya Akhtar predicts return of love stories in Bollywood, breaks silence on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2

The session was conducted by veteran writer Anjum Rajabali, where Akhtar discussed her career and approach to screenwriting. Known for directing films such as Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Gully Boy, Akhtar said she does not attempt to predict what the industry expects from writers.

“See, I don’t function that way. Like, I don’t know, ‘Oh, now they’re looking for this, so let me write this.’ I don’t think that way,” she said. However, she noted that storytelling trends often move in cycles. “If you look at it in the past 10–15 years, everything gets saturated and then changes. So if you look at it cyclically, maybe love stories will come back.” Her observation comes at a time when romantic films have begun regaining traction at the box office. Recent titles such as Saiyaara, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, and Tere Ishk Mein have contributed to renewed interest in the genre. Several upcoming projects also explore similar themes, including a forthcoming film by Imtiaz Ali starring Diljit Dosanjh.

During the interaction, Akhtar also addressed speculation around a sequel to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. When asked about the possibility of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2, she responded with a smile, “When it happens, I’ll announce it.” The filmmaker also shared that she is currently working on multiple projects. “We have *Dahaad 2 being shot. Reema Kagti is shooting that. I’m writing two screenplays for myself,” she said, adding that several scripts are also being developed for other directors.

Reflecting on her early writing process, Akhtar revealed that her debut film Luck By Chance initially resulted in an unusually long script. “I just expanded the one-liner straight into a screenplay, which ended up becoming a 200–300 page draft. Today it probably would have been a great series,” she said. She added that the script was eventually reworked with Kagti’s help. “She read it and asked, ‘What are you trying to do? Why are you making a trilogy as your first film?’ So we edited heavily and condensed the story.”

Other members of the screenwriting community, including Manisha Korde, Ginny Diwan, Siddhant Makkar, and Mitesh Shah, were also present at the workshop.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan reveals why he feels most comfortable around women during Joy Personal Care campaign shoot