# Zoya Akhtar confirms ZNMD sequel work, recalls fan abuse over ad 2026-08-18T11:38:13+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 5 independent outlets Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has confirmed she is working on a sequel to the 2011 cult classic Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India at the Monsoon Film Festival, Akhtar said, "We are on it," adding that the project will only move ahead if the story feels right for the characters today. She is developing the idea with Reema Kagti, but no script or cast is finalised yet. The update comes months after Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol reunited for a Yas Island advertisement in 2025. Many fans mistook the ad for a sequel trailer, leading to backlash. Akhtar recalled, "People thought it was a trailer. First, they were like, 'YEAH!' But then I got abused in my DMs saying, 'This was not funny.'" The original film, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment, earned over Rs 153 crore worldwide and won National Awards. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All five sources report Zoya Akhtar's confirmation neutrally, without political or ideological slant. The story is a straightforward entertainment update, and every outlet leads with her "we are on it" quote. Hindustan Times and Times of India emphasise fan reaction to the Yas Island ad, while Koimoi adds caution, recalling that a similar Farhan Akhtar project, Jee Le Zaara, was announced but never made. Bollywood Life includes the box office figure of Rs 153 crore and National Award wins. Cinema Express is the briefest, sticking to the key quotes. The uniform coverage means no competing framings to analyse. The real takeaway is that despite Zoya's confirmation, the sequel remains in early development, with no guarantee of a green light. ## Coverage Coverage: 5 sources, 5 neutral - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Straightforward update with quotes from Zoya and Farhan, no slant. - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with Zoya's DM abuse anecdote, but remains factual throughout. - koimoi.com (neutral report) Adds cautionary context about Jee Le Zaara, but does not editorialise. - cinemaexpress.com (neutral report) Briefest version, only Zoya's direct quotes and basic facts. - bollywoodlife.com (neutral report) Includes box office figure and National Awards, but no opinion. This story was synthesised by AI from the 5 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 5 sources. Last updated 2026-08-18T14:47:28+00:00. Tags: Abhay Deol, Excel Entertainment, Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Zoya Akhtar Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/zoya-akhtar-confirms-znmd-2-work-recalls-abuse-over-ad-mix-up/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/zoya-akhtar-confirms-znmd-2-work-recalls-abuse-over-ad-mix-up/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/