In a nutshell, Zoya Akhtar is known for her nuanced, finely done stories of character-driven narratives. It began with her debut directorial venture, Luck by Chance, in 2009, which was more or less an extended peek into the underbelly of the Hindi film industry. But it was Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in 2011 that really brought her into the forefront of Bollywood. Life is to be lived tells a coming-of-age road trip saga, which was destined to strike a chord with the viewers for its inspiring theme of friendship—enlightening, liberating, living. Gully Boy (2019), based on the lives of slum rappers in Mumbai, showcased Akhtar’s potential in terms of a varied storyline and went on to bag several awards and became India’s entry into the Oscars.