It’s the story of a down-in-the-dumps advertising executive who falls in love with the captain of the Indian cricket team on the verge of the World Cup. But what if she wasn’t just any ad executive? What if being born at the exact moment Kapil Devi’s Team India clinched its first World Cup victory has given her innate luck? What if she’s the secret weapon India needs to win?
The trailer for The Zoya Factor, a Hindi romantic comedy starring Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salmaan, dropped on Thursday ahead of the movie’s release on September 20. Sonam and Dulquer play Zoya Solanki and Nikhil Khoda, the protagonists of Abhishek Sharma’s latest flick. It also features Sanjay Kapoor and Angad Singh Bedi.
Based on the popular 2008 novel of the same name by Anuja Chauhan, the trailer begins with Sonam as a dejected Zoya. “My love life sucks. My professional life sucks,” she says, as she’s dumped and then nearly fired. She’s then sent on a shoot that features Team India in their new jerseys — a dream project for even half-hearted cricket fans — but not for Zoya. “I hate cricket,” she says.
Enter Nikhil Khoda, the beloved team captain who, despite having his own unlucky streak, fiercely believes in practice and hard work over luck.
The trailer shows Nikhil and Zoya's growing romance, but also signals that things start to sour. Once people realise that Zoya’s presence is a blessing for India’s chances at the World Cup, she’s hailed as a deity. Coconuts are broken, agarbathis are burnt, and superstitious players and fans fawn over their new-found secret weapon.
That doesn’t go down well with the level-headed Nikhil. “If players start depending on luck, their preparations fall to pieces,” he tells her.
The film has been delayed for years after the rights to the novel were first acquired by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, and later by Pooja Shetty. It features songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and score from Indrajit Sharma and Parikshit Sharma.
Watch: