Zoya Akhtar Reflects on Focus Groups

Zoya Akhtar elaborated on her experiences with focus group screenings, recalling how an elderly viewer harshly criticized 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,' while younger audience members supported it. Despite such feedback, Zoya emphasized that she doesn't take every opinion to heart and has since stopped attending these screenings. This sentiment was echoed by Karan Johar during a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter India, where both directors expressed their disdain for the often 'ruthless' nature of focus groups. Zoya's film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,' released in 2011, featured an ensemble cast and was ultimately a commercial success, grossing over ₹150 crores in India.