Zoya and Rohit with Karan Johar

He’s Bolly’s hit machine — churning out blockbusters from Golmaal to Chennai Express. Her two films — Luck By Chance and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara — have been watched and rewatched countless times. Watch Karan Johar chat with fellow filmmakers Rohit Shetty and Zoya Akhtar on Koffee with Karan tonight (9pm on STAR World). A sneak peek.

my struggles are not because I am a woman

Zoya Akhtar: I keep getting asked what is it like to be a female filmmaker and I am like: ‘What do I have to compare it with?’ Like I have, believe it or not, been born a woman! This is how it has been, the gender. There’s nothing to compare it with. I decided I want to make movies… I am making movies. So I don’t know…I’ve had struggles…but they’ve not been because I am a woman.

Karan Johar: Your struggles have been legendary, Zoya! You are one of the most talented filmmakers...your two films are amazing… Luck by Chance and Zindagi..., you know how I have felt about both the films. And yet you’ve had such a tough time casting these movies. Why does no one do your movies?

Zoya: I don’t know what is wrong with people! I think because I don’t write one boy-one girl films.

Karan: You don’t... you write ensemble films.

Zoya: I write ensemble films…I mean at least what I have written till now has been ensemble. So I think that’s what it is…I think it’s not that typical… I think if I did a love story and it was a one boy-one girl mounting like that…you know with this banner and all that I think I would cast it quite easily. But it just doesn’t come to me. I have to write what comes to me.

Karan: Why do love stories not come to you?

Zoya: I don’t know. I mean everyone’s doing them and they do it really well, the people that are doing it. It hasn’t happened yet… and when it does, I will make one. I have no problem with love stories and such... though I have to say it’s not my favourite genre.

TEENO MEIN SE KAUN ZYADA HOT HAI?

Karan: Can you please tell, Rohit, what one media member asked you once at the press conference of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara? Rohit Shetty: She told me…Teeno mein se kaun zyada hot hai? Zoya: Ya! Of the three boys (Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol) whose body do you like? And I am like: ‘You want me to objectify my cast?’ And Hrithik is like: ‘She’s not understanding anything you are saying’. And I am like: ‘I am not going to answer this question’. And one is my brother… like, how gross! This is ridiculous. You have three grown men, they are actors and you can’t talk about them like (a) they are not in the room, (b) I am working with them. It’s just bizarre. And she’s like: ‘Oh I am so sorry, you are hurt’. I said: ‘I am not hurt, I am irritated, you’ve even missed the emotion, you are even wrong there!’

ROHIT: KAREENA KAPOOR CAN WRITE GOSSIP COLUMNS!

Koffee with Karan airs tonight at 9pm on STAR World

Karan (to Rohit): An actress you think is sexy?

Rohit: Deepika Padukone.

Karan: If not in the film industry what should Kareena Kapoor do?

Rohit: She would be writing gossip columns. And with a fake name like Chikni Chameli or something.

Karan: A movie you think did not deserve a sequel?

Rohit: Satya.

Karan: A person in the film industry who needs to work out?

Rohit: Abhishek Bachchan.

Karan: Chill out?

Rohit: Karan Johar.

Karan: Get out?

Rohit: Many of them!

Karan: What would you do if you were stuck on an island with Shah Rukh and Salman?

Rohit: I’ll start making Bad Boys!

ZOYA’S ROMANTIC DATE: KJO!

Karan: An overrated film in the last two years?

Zoya: I don’t want to be mean… but I thought Vicky Donor was a bit overrated. Like I heard so much about it and then I was a bit disappointed.

Karan: An actor you think is underrated?

Zoya: Saif Ali Khan.

Karan: What’s the most irritating song you’ve ever heard?

Zoya: You know, Badtameez dil is really getting on my nerves. I am sorry, but it’s playing everywhere and I’ve just come from Delhi from a wedding and I am done with it, man! And that maane na…maane na…. Sorry Ayan (Mukerji, the director of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), I love you but the song’s getting on my nerves right now!

Karan: And the most ridiculous lyrics?

Zoya: This Tooh!

Karan: That’s also mine (from Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, produced by KJo). Everybody does it and you can do it tooh! Tooh means the posterior.

Zoya: I know! I think it’s ridiculous.

Karan: A person from the film industry you would like to go on a romantic date with?

Zoya: You!

Karan: What rubbish!

Zoya: I’ve been wooing you for years… you dumped me for Ekta Kapoor.

Karan: If you were ever to experiment, who is the actress you would like to have a thing with?

Zoya: Kangana Ranaut. She’s quite a hottie!

If you were Karan, what would you ask Zoya and Rohit? Tell t2@abp.in