'I know enough about bachelors'

Luck By Chance may not have proved lucky at the box office, but that hasn't deterred filmmaker Zoya Akhtar from making the kind of cinema she believes in. Her next film says, give life the best shot you can

Who thought up the title, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara?
Farhan (brother Farhan Akhtar). He came up with it because it suits the film's theme -- you have only one life to do what you want to.

Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

It's rare for a woman director to come up with a film centred around bachelors.
I know enough about bachelors, so, it was fun making this film.

Are the skydiving, snorkelling and diving portions in the film incorporated for the thrill?
The scenes are intrinsic to the film. The story is headed in that direction -- it's all about the experiences the characters undergo. The approach is not 'sky diving dikhaana hai so let's incorporate it in the film.'

Farhan says sky diving was fun. Did you try it too?
There are certain things I don't want to change about myself. I find sky diving frightening, and I don't wish to overcome this fear. But I did try snorkelling. Shooting the underwater sequence was a stunning experience. The actors and I would go underwater in the middle of the sea, and we'd return to dry land only at sunset.

Was Farhan cast in the film by default since he is producer and family?
When I was writing the script, I knew he had to be in the film. As we began developing the character, he turned out to be more and more like Farhan.

You have managed to assemble quite a cast.
When you put together an eclectic cast, people get curious and want to know more about the film. When people see Hrithik (Roshan) and Kalki (Koechlin) in the same film or Abhay (Deol) and Katrina (Kaif), it is interesting for them. It's interesting for me too.

Why did you choose Katrina for Laila's role?
I wanted a girl who was a mix of Indian and occidental. I met a lot of girls but didn't like any. Then I met Katrina for the first time at a party, and realised she was the one.

Did Farhan offer inputs since he is the more established director in the industry?
Why only Farhan? Every actor lends inputs. All of us have to collaborate to take the idea to screen. Farhan is creatively stimulating.

Reema Kagti is the co-writer of the film. You were executive producer for her debut film, Honeymoon Travels. When did this friendship begin?
Reema and I were assistant directors on Bombay Boyz when we were 22. We have been friends since then. We worked together on Dil Chahta Hai and a few other films. I love writing with her; she's a good writer and is extremely disciplined. She is also my best friend, which makes writing fun.

How confident are you about Zindagi after the not-so-successful Luck By Chance?
I'm very confident. I was confident of Luck By Chance too. I have been working for a long time. With Luck... I wasn't stressed, but Zindagi... was different, because it was shot entirely on the road.