Zoya Akhtar didn't know Katrina Kaif

Director Zoya Akhtar is looking forward to her next release Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The director had a tough time setting up the perfect cast of the film, especially for the character essayed by actress Katrina Kaif. Zoya reveals that she did not know Katrina till she roped her for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a story of three friends, Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol, who hit the dirt on a road trip that changes their lives forever. "We had auditioned a lot of women before roping in Katrina. We needed a half Indian and half Caucatian girl, who would be willing to ride a bike, scuba dive and is physically fit. I tested a lot of people from New York and London but nothing really interested me," Zoya said (PTI). "Also, I did not know Katrina at all...till I met her at a party. It was only at that time I realised what am I doing. She is the one I was looking for," she said. The other female lead in the film is played by Kalki Koechlin.

Talking about other actors in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Zoya said, "Hrithik Roshan is one of my favourite actors and he was a part of my first film ''Luck By Chance'' as well. Even if I was making a one crore film I would have approached Hrithik whether he does it or not I don't know. As far as Kalki is concerned she is a very interesting actress and edgy. Farhan and Abhay are really intelligent actors. So who wouldn't love to work with such talented lot of actors."

When asked the film is touted as guys flick, so does such movies have scope for women, to which Zoya, daughter of noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, said, "Of course they do. You take example of films like Rang De Basanti, Dil Chahta Hai, Rock On women did have very pertinent parts in these films. I don't write bad characters for women."

The director also clarified that the movie is not an extension of Dil Chahta Hai. "It is not an extension of Dil Chahta Hai...if it would have been then it would have called Dil Chata Hai 2. It is another film altogether," she said without divulging details.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara produced by Excel Entertainment releases on July 15.