Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy to have its world premiere at the Berlin film festival

Just days before Gully Boy is due to be screened in India on 14 February, the film starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt together for the first time will be making its bow at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival.

The musical is said to be inspired by the lives of rappers Divine and Naezy.

Director Zoya Akhtar will join filmmakers Fatih Akin, Emin Alper, Heinrich Breloer and Denis Côté whose films will be screened at the festival. Only nine films have been announced in the competition section so far.

Gully Boy has been selected for the Special Gala section of the German festival where it will have its world premiere. Artistes Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Vijay Raaz, Amruta Subhash and Vijay Verma have also been listed in the cast.

The 69th edition of the festival will be held from 7–17 February 2019. French actress Juliette Binoche has been named to head the competition jury.