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Luck by Chance

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Luck by Chance
Theatrical release poster
Directed byZoya Akhtar
Written byZoya Akhtar
Javed Akhtar
Produced byFarhan Akhtar
Ritesh Sidhwani
StarringFarhan Akhtar
Konkana Sen Sharma
CinematographyCarlos Catalan
Edited byAnand Subaya
Music byShankar–Ehsaan–Loy
Production
company
Distributed byBIG Pictures
Release date
  • 30 January 2009 (2009-01-30)
Running time
156 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹ 150 million[1]
Box officeest. ₹ 290 million[2]

Luck by Chance is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Zoya Akhtar in her directorial debut, and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the Excel Entertainment banner. The film stars Farhan Akhtar and Konkana Sen Sharma in lead roles, with Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Kapoor, Isha Sharvani, Alyy Khan, and Sheeba Chaddha in supporting roles. Hrithik Roshan appears in an extended cameo, while numerous industry figures—Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, Ranbir Kapoor, John Abraham, Vivek Oberoi, Rajkumar Hirani, Boman Irani, and Anurag Kashyap—feature as themselves in guest appearances. The narrative follows Vikram, a struggling actor who arrives in Mumbai to pursue a film career, navigating fame, ambition, and strained personal relationships as he rises to stardom.[3]

The film marked Akhtar’s first collaboration as director with Excel Entertainment and was noted for its insider perspective on the Hindi film industry. Principal photography took place in Mumbai, with cinematography by Carlos Catalan. The music was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

Released theatrically on 30 January 2009, Luck by Chance received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its screenplay, performances, and realistic portrayal of the film industry. The film earned approximately ₹28 crore (US$3.9 million) worldwide against a modest production budget, emerging as a moderate box office success.[2] At the 55th Filmfare Awards, Luck by Chance received 5 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor (Rishi) and Best Supporting Actress (Kapadia), and won Best Debut Director (Zoya, tying with Ayan Mukerji for Wake Up Sid).

Plot

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Vikram Jaisingh, an aspiring actor from Delhi, arrives in Mumbai with dreams of becoming a Bollywood star. He reconnects with his friend Abhimanyu, through whom he meets Sona Mishra, a struggling actress relegated to supporting roles. The two begin a romantic relationship. While together, Vikram encourages Sona to enter a contest to win a refrigerator, replacing her old one.

Sona has long been promised a lead role by small-time producer Satish, who eventually secures funding for a new project. Expecting to be cast, Sona visits him, but he dismisses her. Composing herself, she leaves behind headshots of Vikram under the pretext of delivering photos for a relative. Satish’s wife notices Vikram’s pictures and forwards them to Romy Rolly, a prominent producer seeking a new male lead after a major star, Zafar Khan, exits his film.

Vikram is invited to audition and later meets Neena Walia, a fading film actress whose daughter, Nikki, has been cast opposite the new male lead. Vikram flatters Neena, who in turn influences the team to cast him. He secures the part, and he and Sona celebrate.

During filming, Nikki becomes infatuated with Vikram, and they begin a clandestine affair. When Sona visits the set unexpectedly, she senses a change in Vikram's behavior. Neena soon learns of the affair and urges the pair to maintain the image of being single to preserve the film's publicity. As rumors spread, Sona's journalist friend Tanveer publishes an exposé portraying Vikram as an opportunist who manipulated multiple women. After the article is released, Vikram’s relationship with Nikki ends, and he confronts Sona, accusing her of involvement. She denies it and confronts Tanveer for the breach of trust.

Despite the scandal, Romy Rolly’s film releases and becomes a box-office success, catapulting Vikram to stardom. Meanwhile, Sona wins the refrigerator contest, a reminder of Vikram’s earlier gesture. Nikki grapples with heartbreak, but Neena advises her to embrace the publicity to further her career, reflecting on her own past sacrifices in the industry.

At a post-release party, Vikram meets his idol, Shah Rukh Khan, who advises him not to forget those who supported him before fame. Taking the advice to heart, Vikram visits Sona to apologise. While he expresses remorse, Sona chooses to move on, recognizing his true nature. As she leaves, she reflects contentedly on her life, valuing her independence and resilience despite never achieving stardom.

Cast

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Guest appearances

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Production

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Development

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Luck by Chance was produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the banner of Excel Entertainment and marked the directorial debut of Zoya Akhtar.[4] She revealed that the first draft of the script was handwritten during a trip to Palolem Beach in Goa, nearly seven years before the film’s release. "The first film is the easiest to write because it’s usually what the person knows—their personal graphs, milieu, and feelings," she said. "Luck by Chance is not about established actors, but those who are waiting for things to happen."[4]

Zoya drew inspiration from films about the Hindi film industry, such as Guddi (1971), Rangeela (1995), and Om Shanti Om (2007), and noted that she required little external research due to her own familiarity with the industry.[5] The dialogues were written by Javed Akhtar, who, according to Zoya, brought his "bizarre sense of humor" to the script.[4]

Farhan Akhtar trained extensively for his role, including achieving six-pack abs with the help of fitness trainer Cheetah Yagnesh, who also made a cameo as his character’s coach. Filming faced several challenges, including Mumbai’s unpredictable monsoon rains, which delayed a song sequence with Hrithik Roshan and damaged the set.[6] According to Farhan, principal photography concluded in October 2008.[7]

Casting

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Zoya Akhtar cast her brother, Farhan Akhtar, in the lead role following a suggestion by director Reema Kagti, after seeing his performance in The Fakir of Venice. Zoya explained, "Farhan was the perfect choice because he knows the industry in and out. He is smart and bright, and both of us have been working together for years."

The film’s large ensemble cast presented logistical challenges. Zoya noted the difficulty in choosing actors who could convincingly play themselves while fitting seamlessly into the film’s narrative. In addition to Farhan, the cast included Konkona Sen Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Kapoor, Isha Sharvani, Alyy Khan, and Sheeba Chaddha. Zoya cast her parents, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, in cameo appearances.[5][7] Kapadia was chosen to portray a fading film star, with Zoya commenting, "Dimple has played it edgy. She's all warm, soft sunshine and then there's a flip and she's hard, cold, steely."[4]

Sharvani reunited with Hrithik Roshan after appearing together in a television commercial,[8] while Juhi Chawla joined the cast as Minty, the wife of producer Romy Rolly.[9]

Promotion

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The producers opted for a restrained marketing campaign, encouraging audiences to discover the film organically. The main trailer was released in late December 2008, offering a glimpse of the central characters and tone. Promotion was handled by BigFlix, a division of Reliance BIG Entertainment, and included signed music CDs by Farhan Akhtar and Konkona Sen Sharma as prizes. The film was promoted across all 112 BIGFlix stores in 10 Indian cities, as well as internationally through their video-on-demand platform.[10]

A notable campaign titled "Auto By Chance" was launched in Mumbai in collaboration with Big FM and Godrej. Ten autorickshaws branded with the film's visuals offered free rides to passengers in suburban areas. Selected passengers were interviewed live by radio jockeys and shared their experience on air.[10] Additionally, Indian gaming portal Zapak.com hosted a microsite featuring the promotional game "Luck by Chance – Lucky Break."[10]

Release

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Luck by Chance was initially scheduled for release on 23 January 2009, alongside Raaz: The Mystery Continues. However, its release was postponed to 30 January 2009. The film was released on 900 screens worldwide across 27 countries, with over 700 screens in India and the remainder in overseas markets such as the United States, Canada, the UK, UAE, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

The DVD of Luck by Chance was published by UTV Home Video, and its television premiere took place on StarPlus.[11]

Reception

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Box office

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Luck by Chance opened to modest occupancy in Indian theatres, averaging between 25% to 30% on its opening day.[12] According to trade analyst Joginder Tuteja, occupancy increased slightly to around 50% over the opening weekend.[13] While the film had a lukewarm domestic opening, its critical acclaim helped sustain its performance in urban centers, and it was ultimately declared a hit in India.

Internationally, the film performed respectably. In the United States, it debuted at number 32 and grossed $217,439 (approximately ₹1.06 crore) from 61 screens, with a per-screen average of $3,556. In the United Kingdom, it opened at number 21, earning £73,822 (approximately ₹50.95 lakh) from 50 screens, with a per-screen average of £1,476. The film also performed well in Australia.[14][15]

Luck by Chance grossed approximately $3.91 million in India and a worldwide total of $4.50 million.[16][17]

Critical reception

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Luck by Chance received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[18] Anupama Chopra of NDTV praised Zoya Akhtar's satirical yet affectionate take on the Hindi film industry, writing, "Zoya pokes fun at Bollywood but she does it with great affection... What makes Luck By Chance compelling is the layers beneath the laughs." While she noted that the first half struggled with pacing, she commended the film’s satisfying and bittersweet conclusion.[19]

A reviewer for UAE Daily highlighted the film’s strong writing and execution, describing it as "one of the most cohesive scripts this side of the Atlantic" and commending Akhtar’s direction.[20] The Times of India appreciated its thematic exploration, stating, "Luck By Chance highlights how the film industry gives regard to everything but the story when making a movie, and ironically weaves a fascinating story using that paradox."[21]

Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL India noted that while the film was entertaining and offered "some smiles", it lacked the emotional fulfillment of a traditional feel-good film.[22]

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote, "Luck by Chance deftly satirizes Bollywood... A fabulous circus-theme musical number pulls out all the stops, but a scene in which an acting teacher explains why Hindi stars have to be more talented than those in Hollywood is a subtle comic gem." He also praised Farhan Akhtar's performance, calling it "understated" and effective.[23]

Frank Lovece of Film Journal International compared the film to The Player (1992) and All About Eve (1950), describing it as a "seriocomic satire" and noting the large number of celebrity cameos as a reflection of the film’s sharp industry commentary.[24]

Accolades

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Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
Tokyo International Film Festival 17–25 October 2009 Asian Film Award Zoya Akhtar Nominated [25]
Screen Awards 9 January 2010 Best Supporting Actor Rishi Kapoor Nominated [26]
Best Debut Director Zoya Akhtar Nominated
Best Ensemble Cast Farhan Akhtar, Juhi Chawla, Sheeba Chaddha, Dimple Kapadia, Alyy Khan, Sanjay Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Isha Sharvani, and Konkona Sen Sharma Won
Producers Guild Film Awards 11 January 2010 Best Film Luck By Chance Nominated [27]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Rishi Kapoor Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Role Dimple Kapadia Nominated
Stardust Awards 17 January 2010 Best Supporting Actor Rishi Kapoor Nominated [28][29]
Hrithik Roshan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Dimple Kapadia Nominated
Superstar of Tomorrow – Male Farhan Akhtar Nominated
Superstar of Tomorrow – Female Isha Sharvani Nominated
Filmfare Awards 27 February 2010 Best Supporting Actor Rishi Kapoor Nominated [30]
Best Supporting Actress Dimple Kapadia Nominated
Best Debut Director Zoya Akhtar Won
Best Sound Design Baylon Fonseca Nominated

Soundtrack

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Main article: Luck by Chance (soundtrack)

References

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  1. ^ Nikhat Kazmi (2 March 2009). "Bollywood profits hit an all-time low". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Box Office 2009". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Farhan Akhtar doubly anxious for sister's film". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 5 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Shradha Sukumaran (4 January 2009). "Zoya Akhtar on Luck by Chance". MiD DAY. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Farhan was the perfect choice for 'Luck By Chance': Zoya Akhtar (Interview)". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  6. ^ Luck by Chance turns unlucky Archived 1 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Oneindia.in. Retrieved 2009-01-30
  7. ^ a b "Zoya Akhtar ropes in Javed, Shabana for 'Luck By Chance'". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  8. ^ "None can match Hrithik shaking a leg: Isha Sharvani". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  9. ^ "Juhi Chawla dons blonde look for 'Luck By Chance' (Film Snippets)". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Tyagi, Chhavi. "A 'By Chance' campaign to promote Luck By Chance". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ^ Tyagi, Chhavi. "A 'By Chance' campaign to promote Luck By Chance". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ BollywoodHungamaNewsNetwork (2 February 2009). "'Luck By Chance' and 'Victory' start slow at Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  13. ^ "'Luck By Chance', 'Victory' have great show at box office (Box office review)". Thaindian News. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Luck by Change (2009) - International Box Office Results". Box office mojo. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  15. ^ Taran Adarsh (4 February 2009). "Victory and Luck by Chance ice cooled overseas". Bollywood Hungama. Entertainment OneIndia. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  16. ^ both ‘Luck By Chance’ and ‘Victory’ did very good to impress Archived 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-06
  17. ^ "Luck by Change (2009)". Box office mojo. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  18. ^ "Luck by Chance (2009)". Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2020 – via rottentomatoes.com.
  19. ^ Anupama Chopra (30 January 2009). "Movie Review: Luck By Chance". NDTV Movies. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  20. ^ Exclusive Movie Review: LUCK BY CHANCE Archived 6 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, UAE Daily. Retrieved 2009-01-30
  21. ^ Gaurav Malani (29 January 2009). "Movie Review: Luck By Chanc e". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  22. ^ Noyon Jyoti Parasara (30 January 2009). "Review of Luck by Chance at AOL India". AOL. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  23. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (30 January 2009). "Luck by Chance: A Bollywood Satire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  24. ^ Lovece, Frank (2 February 2009). "Luck by Chance (review)". Film Journal International. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  25. ^ "Tokyo International Film Festival 2009". MUBI. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Nominations for Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2009". Bollywood Hungama. 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Hindi Awards Star Guild Awards 2010 | Nettv4u". nettv4u. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Stardust Awards 2010: Winners List". www.merinews.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Stardust awards 2010 : Nominees complete list". www.merinews.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  30. ^ 3 Idiots shines at Filmfare Awards Archived 10 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (27 February 2010). Retrieved on 13 January 2017.
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