Luck by Chance is a biting satire and insider’s look at gender disparity in India’s highly competitive film industry. This is the story of a struggling actor who arrives in Bollywood to become a movie star. His journey to fame is juxtaposed with that of an actress, who is also his love interest. Because of blatant gender inequity in this particular microcosm of Indian society, the woman is forced to experience everything from the “casting couch” syndrome to losing lead roles because of her age and looks. The New York Times says “it might seem as if Bollywood couldn’t possibly satirize itself …but Zoya Akhtar manages the trick deftly.”
Accompanying Director :
ZOYA AKHTAR
Born in 1972 to renowned script and lyrics writer Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, films have always been home to Zoya Akhtar. Zoya went to school at Maneckji Cooper, followed by her Bachelors of Arts degree at Xavier’s College, both in Mumbai. Later she went to New York University to learn Film Production
She’s worked on a number of commercials and corporate films for Finolex and Pepsi, to name a few. She’s also co-directed a music video for rock band, Pentagram called ‘Price of Bullets’Zoya has a wide range of experience In the feature film arena, Zoya has a wide range of experience as she worked on a lot independent films being made in india. She has also cast for films such as Kama Sutra, Split Wide Open and Dil Chahta Hai.
She’s worked very closely with Excel Entertainment, where she has assisted on Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya. Zoya, then went on to Executive Produce ‘Honey Moon Travels Private Limited’.
Her latest project is her debut film ‘Luck by Chance’, which is both written and directed by her.The film is a slice of Bollywood life, where Kismet plays a huge role. In this world, notions of superstition, fate and destiny underline every life, as grand desires and opportunity converge to form strange patterns. Luck By Chance is a contemporary tale set in a world desperate to escape its own reality.
The film is scheduled to be released on the 23rd January, 2009.
Accompanying Actor :
FARHAN AKHTAR
Writer Javed Akhtar's and Honey Irani's son Farhan Akhtar is an extremely talented and creative and young director and has made a place for himself in very little time.He entered Bollywood at the age of 17, assisting directors and cinematographers. He dropped out of college and did various jobs like working for a TV production house and setting up his own production house, Excel Entertainment with childhood friend Ritesh Sidhwani.
Farhan made his directorial debut in Hindi cinema with the 2001 hit, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), which starred Aamir Khan. It was a big success, especially popular among the younger generation. Many rate it as one of the greatest movies ever made in Bollywood. The movie earned quite a few nominations for different awards, and won the Filmfare best screenplay award. His next project was Lakshya (2004) with Hrithik Roshan, which was released in 2004. Though the movie did not do as well at the box office, it won him much critical acclaim. The script of the movie was written by his father Javed Akhtar.He then directed a remake of the 1978 cult classic Amitabh Bachchan film, Don (1978) titled Don - The Chase Begins Again (Don (2006/I)) which starred Shahrukh Khan in the title role. The film released on 20 October 2006 and was a huge success at the box office. He produced the film Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007) which also did well at the box office.
Then came Rock On!! (2008), in which he starred and produced. The film was a phenomenon and became an instant cult film just like Dil Chahta Hai. And Farhan has a lot to do with its success. He produced it, wrote the dialogues for it, acted in it and learnt how to sing the super hit songs. His husky voice seems perfect for Indian rock music. The performance of Farhan in Rock On!! was a revelation. And a method actor of his own unique style was born. Farhan has won applauds from his viewers for his acting debut and all loved the sound of his voice on songs like Rock On and Tum Ho Toh. As part of promotions for Rock On, Magik, comprising Farhan, Arjun, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli (the members of the Rock On cast and the fictitious band Magik depicted in the movie) has toured the country making crowds groove to their rocking and magical music.
He is currently (2008-'09) hosting "Oye! It's Friday!" (2008) which is a celeb talk show with a tinge of comedy.
On the personal front, Farhan is married to Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar and they have two daughters: Shakya and Akira. They live in Bandra Bandstand, Mumbai. He is good friends with the Rock On cast and Shah Rukh Khan.
Recently another film got released featuring Farhan as an actor. It is his sister Zoya Akhtar's directorial debut Luck by Chance (2009) in which he plays a struggling actor. The film did fairly good at the box office, but did not turn out to be a superhit, although it received some great remarks in its various reviews
August 30, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm at Asia Society
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