One of India’s finest writer-directors opens up to Cosmo Ed Nandini Bhalla about the body of work she aspires to create (not counting the incredible league of films she already has to her credit!), her formative years, and the social media platform that has her hooked.
![Zoya Akhtar Is On A Roll!](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/268/335986/5c8931daf1036/Zoya-Akhtar.jpg)
Zoya Akhtar is in a good place. We meet a few days after her return from Berlin—where Gully Boy premiered at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, and Cameron Bailey Tweeted that he had never seen such an overwhelming response to a film in 20 years.
A week later, when the Alia BhattRanveer Singh starrer dropped into India cinemas, the reviews were electric, nay, thunderous (fellow director Karan Johar declared Gully Boy a ‘MASTERPIECE’ (in all-caps, by the way), and millions agreed as box office numbers racked up.
“Yes, a lot of people have called and messaged...” Zoya smiles. She’s keeping it casual, I suspect, so I prod for more. “My phone is on fire!” she laughs, “It’s crazy, it’s been pretty crazy...”
Zoya and I are crammed into a tiny make-up room, and I am chatting with her while the make-up artist is applying a light coat of foundation. Zoya has made it clear, in advance, that the make-up must be “natural”. She has one eye on how her hair is being styled (“natural and bouncy”), and when the Cosmo stylist stops by to show her some garments for the cover shoot, she makes it clear that she wants to wear this and not that.
“I mean, I’ll wear it if you want, but I don’t like it because it’s not me,” she says about an electric-hued pantsuit.
But nobody seems to mind. Because there’s something about Zoya—a sunny smile, a warm demeanour with bits of wry humour thrown in, and a piercingly intelligent mind (and mouth)—that makes her very, very likable. And did I mention that she says it exactly like it is? More points.
As a young girl, Zoya was a bit like “Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family.”
The room is amused.
“I was a little strange,” she laughs.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2019 من Cosmopolitan India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2019 من Cosmopolitan India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![Hands Up If You've Been To Forgetting Apply SPF To These Areas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/J3uqgFL7C1717761431335/crp_HANDS-UP-IF-YOUVE-BEEN-TO-FORGETTING-APPLY-SPF-TO-THESE-AREAS.jpg)
Hands Up If You've Been To Forgetting Apply SPF To These Areas
“Raises hand* and instantly reaches for sun protection
![Is Social Media Really A Free Space?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/putc81Ma01717766174989/crp_IS-SOCIAL-MEDIA-REALLY-A-FREE-SPACE.jpg)
Is Social Media Really A Free Space?
We're always rooting for self-expression...especially on the internet. But a friendly and important—reminder to proceed with caution.
![PAMPER YOUR BABY WITH A LUXE SKINCARE EXPERIENCE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/3Hvq59_hm1718011429708/PAMPER-YOUR-BABY-WITH-A-LUXE-SKINCARE-EXPERIENCE.jpg)
PAMPER YOUR BABY WITH A LUXE SKINCARE EXPERIENCE
Baby care brand CITTA offers products that are perfect for newborns and kids with the most sensitive skin
![Are we all Letterboxd-pilled?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/E4v52rcSh1717766347195/ARE-WE-ALL-LETTERBOXDPILLED.jpg)
Are we all Letterboxd-pilled?
Film study grad or not, everyone's a critic now!
![Burning bright](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/5kTYzZ7HL1717765824128/BURNING-BRIGHT.jpg)
Burning bright
Cosmo India speaks to six creators about how they handle the grind and the toll it takes on their bodies and minds.
![MATCH POINT: Polyamory & the green-eyed monster](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/KCZkvT9Eu1717765525973/MATCH-POINT-POLYAMORY-THE-GREENEYED-MONSTER.jpg)
MATCH POINT: Polyamory & the green-eyed monster
While the concept is still more nascent than normative in India, traditionalists have one big question: what becomes of the jealousy?
![Hello, 2024's dating lingo for you](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/C8D-mOmu21717765367950/HELLO-2024S-DATING-LINGO-FOR-YOU.jpg)
Hello, 2024's dating lingo for you
Fresh ways to complicate your life this season.
![Listen? You need to STOP making your crush uncomfortable](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/KPYq2F8-X1717765205376/LISTEN-YOU-NEED-TO-STOP-MAKING-YOUR-CRUSH-UNCOMFORTABLE.jpg)
Listen? You need to STOP making your crush uncomfortable
And yes, you might just be doing it involuntarily.
![Fillers on your mind?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/kIeb_5Jp91717764889915/FILLERS-ON-YOUR-MIND.jpg)
Fillers on your mind?
Cosmo intern Jia Noor Singh Bhandal's (very) quick and (very) easy take on the cosmetic procedure.
![A nifty textbook guide to cleaning your beauty shelfie](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/268/1725325/oXj_EuTTS1717761624869/A-NIFTY-TEXTBOOK-GUIDE-TO-CLEANING-YOUR-BEAUTY-SHELFIE.jpg)
A nifty textbook guide to cleaning your beauty shelfie
Sorry, but it is time to finally throw away your three-year-old dried out mascara.