Gully Boy: Zoya Akhtar reveals Karan Johar prompted her to turn producer

Mumbai: Zoya Akhtar's latest film ‘Gully Boy’ has wowed critics and audiences alike. Zoya who previously helmed films like 'Luck By Chance', 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', and 'Dil Dhadakne Do', has gone over to the other side with 'Gully Boy' that talks about Mumbai's hip hop scene. Starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles, ‘Gully Boy’ is a story inspired by slum rappers of Dharavi.

All of her films till date have been produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment, but with 'Gully Boy' Zoya is branching out her creativity with her own production house named as Tiger Baby.

When asked what incited her to have her production house, Zoya said, “It was an eventual step. Karan Johar, who is a very good friend of mine, had sat me down one day when we were coming from a party at 2am in the morning; we were sitting in his car outside my house for like an hour. He just asked what are you doing? Why aren’t you creating your own space and do your own things? He suggested if I have so many interesting ideas I should produce my own content and put it out there. That really triggered things for me."

"I was toying with the idea but initially I was being lazy with it but then it was an exciting thought. And it eventually happened. Reema (Kagti) and I are part of it,” she added.

Asked why the name 'Tiger Baby', Zoya elucidated, “I like tigers. I think it's Indian; it's hip, very feminine and fierce. That's kind of reps our work.”

Zoya has also co-produced the upcoming web series, 'Made in Heaven' under her banner. The show will start streaming on Amazon Prime from March 8.

The 46-year-old filmmaker said her primary aim is to explore different kinds of cinema.

"Reema and I are interested in producing and mentoring quality content. We are keen on exploring different kinds of cinema with interesting stories. So we will be working more."