'Thought I was...wasting time': Farhan on 'Jee Le Zaraa' delays
What's the story
Farhan Akhtar, who announced his directorial comeback with Jee Le Zaraa in 2021, has admitted that the film's delays have been "stressful" for him. The project, which stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, and Katrina Kaif, has faced scheduling conflicts and repeated delays. In a recent interview with Samdish Bhatia on YouTube, Akhtar opened up about how these delays affected his mental health.
Career impact
Akhtar's commitment to 'Jee Le Zaraa' led to missed opportunities
Akhtar revealed that he turned down acting roles and other projects to concentrate on Jee Le Zaraa, but the production kept getting postponed. He said, "So my film Toofan was released in 2021, and right after that, I was set to direct a film called Jee Le Zara." "It just kept getting delayed... I kept saying no to all other opportunities that came my way."
Emotional toll
Akhtar's insecurities and mental health struggles
The actor-director opened up about his insecurities during this period. He said, "It was such a stressful period because I thought that I was wasting time, and before I knew it, two and a half years had gone by." "There are some personal insecurities as well. I started feeling that maybe people will think that I wouldn't be able to direct."
Production challenges
'Jee Le Zaraa' faced scheduling conflicts among lead actors
Jee Le Zaraa, a road-trip film about female friendships and self-discovery, was announced with much fanfare in 2021. However, reports soon emerged that scheduling the three lead actors had become a major hurdle. In September this year, Akhtar revealed, "I can't comment on the cast anymore... But will the film happen? The film will happen."
Ongoing projects
Meanwhile, Akhtar is seen in '120 Bahadur'
Akhtar is currently busy with his film 120 Bahadur. The historical war drama features him as Major Shaitan Singh alongside Raashii Khanna, Vivan Bhatena, and Ankit Siwach. The film tells the story of the Battle of Rezang La during the Sino-Indian War on November 18, 1962. He will next direct Don 3, which goes on floors in 2026.