Zoya Akhtar finds men as travel companions more exciting

Director Zoya Akhtar, who is apparently seeing Spaniard Carlos Catalon director of photography of both her films is now gearing up for another holiday in Spain, where she ashot her next Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, from where she does not intend to return...

Why a film on male bonding?
I have a lot of male friends. In fact, I have more male friends than female friends.

I have been on innumerable road trips and most of them have been with men. So I am very privy to how men are. I am very comfortable with them. It just lent itself to the story.

It took you years to make Luck By Chance. Was this one easy to make?
Akira Kurosava says, "Good film or bad film, you wake up very early in the morning." No film is easy. This one was easier to get on the floor but harder to shoot. A travel film is much harder to shoot.

What were the challenges of handling such an eclectic cast?
I have been a casting director so I find it very exciting. You can bring various people together and create an interesting energy.

While LBC won critical acclaim, it failed to get commercial success. You hope to get box office success with ZNMD?
I want everything in life. I am greedy. I was disappointed because I thought LBC would do better than it did. I didn't expect to get the kind of appreciation that I got from everyone. So in a way, God balanced it out for me.

Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor refused ZNMD. Earlier, Rani Mukherjee refused LBC...
That wasn't the case. I just wanted to go with other actors. I didn't want my films to be that young and teeny types.

So we went with my favourite actor Hrithik instead. Rani had said no but I love her and I would love to work with her. We are planning something.

So what's next?
I am going on a holiday to Spain in September. I don't know how long will it last. I might come back, I might never come back.

Who do you like traveling with girls or boys?
I have a bunch of girls that I travel with and I also have a bunch of boys. I like both but I think boys are more fun.

Are you dating Carlos Catalon, the DOP of both your films?
I really like his work. We get on very well. My second film was set in Spain so I'd be stupid to take someone else.