- Zoya Akhtar confirms work on ZNMD 2.
- Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay could reunite.
- ZNMD 2 would revisit the beloved trio 15 years later.
- Jee Le Zaraa remains another highly anticipated road-trip film.
- Fans could have two emotional journeys to celebrate.
For fans who believe the best movie friendships deserve a second adventure, Bollywood has delivered a very welcome reason to smile.
Fifteen years after Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara became a beloved friendship-and-road-trip classic, director Zoya Akhtar has confirmed that work on a sequel is underway. The news immediately raises excitement about the possible return of Arjun, Kabir and Imran — the unforgettable trio played by Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar.
But there is another fascinating possibility sitting alongside it: Farhan Akhtar’s long-awaited Jee Le Zaraa, the female-led road-trip movie he announced with Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
So, if both projects eventually make it to screens, which road trip should fans be more excited about?
WE ARE ON IT”: ZOYA AKHTAR BRINGS ZNMD 2 BACK TO LIFE
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Monsoon Film Festival, Zoya gave fans perhaps the most encouraging update yet about Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2.
“We are on it," she said.
That may be a short statement, but after 15 years of speculation, it is huge news.
Zoya has also made clear that she does not want to make a sequel simply because audiences miss the characters. The story has to work for Arjun, Kabir and Imran at this stage of their lives.
“We don’t know what will happen and what won’t… if we will get to a place where it feels correct, in catching up with these characters today. But it will be nice."
And that is exactly what makes the possibility so exciting. These would not be the same three carefree men who traveled across Spain in 2011. Fifteen years later, they could be dealing with careers, families, relationships, regrets and completely different ideas about what happiness means.
That gives ZNMD 2 the potential to be more than nostalgia. It could be a reunion with emotional weight.
Actor Farhan Akhtar and his sister Zoya Akhtar, director of the new Indian Bollywood Hindi film “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, pose for a photo in Mumbai on July 15, 2011. Getty Images
JEE LE ZARAA: THE ROAD TRIP THAT COULD GIVE FANS A WHOLE NEW FRIENDSHIP
Then there is Jee Le Zaraa, Farhan Akhtar’s ambitious road-trip project that generated enormous excitement when it was announced.
The film was originally set to bring together Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt as three friends embarking on a life-changing journey. Farhan was attached to direct the movie, making the project particularly intriguing because of his connection to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
The concept immediately felt like a companion to ZNMD — but with three women at the center of the story.
That distinction is important.
While ZNMD 2 would give audiences the joy of reconnecting with characters they already love, Jee Le Zaraa promised something fresh: a new friendship, a new generation and a different perspective on the road-trip genre.
For fans, that means there is no real loser in this comparison.
ZNMD 2 VS JEE LE ZARAA: WHICH ONE HAS THE BIGGER EMOTIONAL PAYOFF?
For nostalgia: ZNMD 2 wins. Seeing Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay together again as Arjun, Kabir and Imran would instantly bring back memories of the original.
For something fresh: Jee Le Zaraa has the advantage. Its female-led friendship story could offer an entirely new emotional journey.
For the reunion factor: ZNMD 2 is almost impossible to beat. The three actors already have a beloved chemistry that fans have been waiting years to see again.
For the road-trip legacy: Both projects are connected. ZNMD established the template, while Jee Le Zaraa was envisioned as a new interpretation of friendship, freedom and self-discovery.
And there is one more reason fans are celebrating.
In 2025, Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay reunited for a Yas Island advertisement, causing fans to wonder whether a sequel was finally coming. The reaction became so intense that even Zoya acknowledged it.
“People thought it was a trailer," she said.
Zoya had previously been more guarded about the sequel, saying, “When it happens, I’ll announce it."
Now, she has.
There is still no confirmed release date, and the final cast and story for ZNMD 2 remain unknown. Jee Le Zaraa also has its own long journey before reaching audiences.
But for fans of friendship, adventure and movies that make you want to pack a bag and call your closest friends, this is a genuinely happy development.
After all, why choose between two great road trips?
If Bollywood can give audiences both ZNMD 2 and Jee Le Zaraa, the real winners could be the fans.
