Farhan Akhtar recalls stress, delays and self-doubt over Jee Le Zaraa

Bollywood actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar has opened up about the long and unexpected delay of his directorial project Jee Le Zaraa, a film he announced in 2021 with Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles. What began as a highly anticipated venture gradually turned into a period of uncertainty for him as the project kept getting postponed due to scheduling conflicts among the cast.

Farhan shared that after the release of Toofan in 2021, he consciously stepped away from acting opportunities to focus entirely on directing Jee Le Zaraa. He turned down several roles because he believed the film would go on the floors soon. He explained that directing demands full attention, and he kept telling people he wouldn’t be available as he was about to begin work on the film. However, as months passed, the dates continued to shift, leaving the filmmaker feeling stuck.

The extended delay began taking a toll on him emotionally. Farhan admitted that he felt like time was slipping away and that he had wasted nearly two and a half years waiting for the project to start. He also confessed that the gap since his last directorial, Don 2 in 2011, made him anxious. He worried that people might begin doubting his abilities as a director. Discussing these insecurities with a therapist helped him understand where the pressure was coming from, but he still found it difficult to detach himself from the film because of how invested he was.

The initial cast announcement created huge excitement, especially because it brought three leading actresses together for a road-trip drama centred on friendship, self-growth and independence. But aligning the schedules of all three stars proved extremely challenging. Despite Farhan having completed location scouting and music recordings, the project was repeatedly postponed due to unavailability of a common shooting window.

Farhan recently indicated that the original cast might not be part of the film anymore. He said he cannot comment on casting decisions at this stage, though he confirmed that the film will definitely be made. Most of the groundwork is complete, and he intends to revive the project with a new timeline.

While Jee Le Zaraa waits for its restart, Farhan is currently seen in the historical war drama 120 Bahadur, in which he plays Major Shaitan Singh. The film recounts the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War, highlighting the extraordinary bravery of 120 Indian soldiers who fought against a significantly larger force. Farhan is also preparing to begin work on Don 3 in 2026, featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead, with the female lead yet to be finalised.