Zoya Akhtar happy about scripts getting more weightage in filmmaking

filmmaking community has witnessed a change in mindset, believes Zoya Akhtar, as producers have started chasing new and refreshing scripts for making money. filmmaker says earlier, a project was bankrolled only if it h a star name attached to it and n scripting phase would follow. But it is longer case w.

"Suddenly, money is chasing content. Earlier we used to write a script, begging, and if you attach an actor, you will get money from a producer. Today, re are so many platforms where you can show content. People are saying here is money, give us something good. This has never happened before. People in between h forgotten that scriptwriting is important. You are giving weight to it and I am very happy about it. story is core part of a film," Zoya told PTI.

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She was talking on sidelines of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival's fourth edition of 'Word to Screen Market' initiative, where literary world engs directly with content creators for film, TV and digital. Zoya believes initiative brings toger two distinctive forms of storytelling since book aptations are important source of content for both makers and audiences.

"re are about 550 titles being pitched and re are filmmakers coming here. re is this marri happening. re will be better stories coming out and it is fantastic. As a storyteller, beyond a point, how many ideas would one person have? It will come from various places and this (book aptations) is a great way. core thing is story."

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Though Zoya has never tried her hand at apting a book for screen, she hopes to follow style of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick someday.

"Both are a completely different format. What you take from a book are essence and story but craft is different. Writing a book is a very different craft from making a feature film. It has to interest, eng and excite you in different ways. For me, one filmmaker, who has apted difficult books is Stanley Kubrick. 'Lolita', '2001: A Odyssey', 'A Clockwork Orange' and ' Shining' are very difficult books. When you watch film, you will see y have changed it but essence is same."

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Zoya says she is hoping to opt a book, but idea is currently in early sts.

"I was pitched one story as I liked it. It is political but a satire. I can't tell you in detail orwise someone else will take it," Zoya Akhtar said.

director is currently working on her short film for Netflix anthology Ghost Stories, which will see her reunite with Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Anurag Kashyap after Lust Stories and Bombay Talkies.

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" whole point of this anthology is to keep doing genres that we rmally don't do. It is a very exciting . It is a very nice club to be a part of - Karan, Anurag, and Dibakar. You can't replace m with anyone. Each one is unique,"Zoya Akhtar said.

Actors Jahnvi Kapoor and Vijay Varma are playing le in Zoya's short. Talking about working with Jahnvi, Zoya says, "She was such a treat to work with. She is so young. She has done something very interesting with film but I can't talk about it. It was a lovely experience to have her. Her energy is infectious.