Seventeen years after ‘Luck by Chance’ lit up screens on January 30, 2009, Zoya Akhtar is taking fans down memory lane with heartfelt posts on social media. This debut directorial venture remains a personal landmark, symbolizing the pure joy of filmmaking in a less digital age.
Throwing open the archives on Instagram, Zoya posted rare BTS shots and clips starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, and more. Her poignant note reflected on the era’s charm: blue skies, actor camaraderie on sets, deep conversations, and no morning phone scrolls. With Farhan as her leading man, co-writer Reema, and young Akira and Carlos adding innocence, it was indeed a dreamlike phase.
The film weaves a compelling narrative of Bollywood’s underbelly, centering on Vikram Sampat’s (Farhan) meteoric rise fueled by fortune, straining his bonds with wife Konkona Sen Sharma’s character. Special appearances by industry heavyweights like Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Kapoor enriched the satire on fame’s double-edged sword.
Though it didn’t set cash registers ringing, ‘Luck by Chance’ clinched Zoya a Filmfare for Best Director. Her groundwork in Farhan’s ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ (casting) and ‘Lakshya’ (assistant director) paved the way for this bold entry. Today, as Zoya cherishes these moments, the film stands as a poignant reminder of Bollywood’s authentic struggles and triumphs before algorithms took over.