The Indian film-industry has been booming like no other in the past few decades. Bollywood is known to everyone across the world since the films are getting produced with high-budget and good story-line. Being comprised to different languages and humours, the Indian cinema sector is whole package of all that you need for entertainment. From Telugu to Hindi, every language has its own uniqueness and story. What makes the industry even better is Female Producers who has created some of the best works that will be celebrates in the coming decades. 

Irrespective of the language, the entire cinema industry in India is growing expeditiously. According to statista, in the year 2025, the revenue in the Cinema market is projected to reach USD 5.01 billion while it is expected to show an annual growth rate of 4.83% with CAGR 2025-2029, resulting in a USD 6.05 billion projected market volume by 2029. Besides, the average revenue/viewer in the Indian Cinema market has been expected to reach USD 8.57.

Amongst all the great films, there are some films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do which touched everyone’s heart in whole different levels. When we hear of these films, only one name that comes to our mind is none other than Zoya Akhtar.  

From First Move to Excellence

Born to legendary poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar and screenwriter Honey Irani, Zoya career was build on the pillar of direction, screenwriting and producing films. Her academical journey revolves around St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

She began her professional journey as a music video’s co-director titled as Price of Bullets for a rock band called Pentagram. Later she worked in multiple films like Split Wide Open in 1999 and Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, as casting director.

She began her professional journey as a music video’s co-director titled as Price of Bullets for a rock band called Pentagram. Later she worked in multiple films like Split Wide Open in 1999 and Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, as casting director.

After the success of some of her directed films, Zoya went on a journey of production when she founded the production company ‘Tiger Baby Films’ in a collaboration with Reema Kagti in 2015. The company produced films like Gully Boy while also producing its first web series, Made in Heaven in 2019.

Unstoppable Growth & Accolades Earned

Being noticed by the entire film industry, Zoya was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because of her continued success in films. Most recently, she teamed up with Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar, creating the sequel of lust stories i.e., ‘Ghost Stories’. In 2023, her production company came up with me thriller web series Dahaad and The Archies that ruled the OTT industry like no other. 

Considering the awards, she has won Best Debut Director for Luck By Chance at 55th Filmfare Awards; Best Director for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara at 57th Filmfare Awards, 13th IIFA Awards, 18th Screen Awards Zee Cine Awards and where not! Her film, Made in Heaven has also earned her Best Writing – Drama at iReel Awards 2019. 

Till date, Zoya has known to be one of the best female producers and directors of this generation after creating work-of-art pieces of cinema in the Indian Film Industry.