Photo: Kevin Payravi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Of all of Bollywood's voices, Zoya Akhtar's perspective is one I trust most. As the daughter of screenwriter Javed Akhtar she had a pedigree, but she refused to coast on it, studying film in New York and apprenticing under directors like Mira Nair before earning her own chair. Gully Boy took Mumbai's street rappers to the world, while Made in Heaven dissected the underbelly of India's wedding industry. Her gift is slipping social realism into glamorous spectacle. Add her 2012 Filmfare Best Director win as a woman in that industry, and she has my wholehearted admiration.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Zoya Akhtar
- Name (Japanese)
- ゾーヤ・アクタル
- Reading
- ぞーや・あくたる
- Born
- January 9, 1974 (age 52)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Tiger
- Origin
- Mumbai, Bombay State, India
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / screenwriter / film producer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- St. Xavier's College
Awards & achievements
- 2012 Filmfare Award for Best Director
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Luck by Chance | — | |
| Notable work | Gully Boy | — | |
| Notable work | Made in Heaven | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Zoya Akhtar born?
Born January 9, 1974 (age 52).
Where is Zoya Akhtar from?
Zoya Akhtar is from Mumbai, Bombay State, India.
What does Zoya Akhtar do?
Zoya Akhtar works as film director, screenwriter, film producer.
What is Zoya Akhtar known for?
Notable works include Luck by Chance, Gully Boy, Made in Heaven.
Film director — see all → · Screenwriter — see all → · More people from India →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.