Picture this: You and your best friends, cruising down a scenic Spanish highway, blasting ‘Senorita’, wind in your hair, sunglasses on, looking every bit like the stars of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011). But this isn’t a fantasy—it’s a real trip, and travel company, Travel with Vaya, is set to make it happen.
The travel world is buzzing with screen-inspired vacations. Just recently, The White Lotus has sent travellers flocking to luxurious Thai resorts. In the past, Emily in Paris made every influencer want to sip lattes on the Seine. And thanks to Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik will forever be known as King’s Landing. Now, Bollywood fans finally get their turn. Vaya is bringing film lovers straight into the action, with itineraries that don’t just let you visit locations, but let you live the movie.
Born as an extension of Atlys, an online visa processing platform, Travel with Vaya is not your average travel agency. It’s a nostalgia-fuelled, pop culture-powered ride into the cinematic landscapes of your favourite films. Their first mission? Bringing ZNMD to life. And that means skydiving in Seville, wine-tasting in Catalonia, and, of course, running (or at least watching a bullfight) in Pamplona.
Inspired by the way ZNMD resonated with millennials and Gen Z, the folks at Atlys decided to take things up a notch. “We used to mock each other using moshi moshi jokes from the film, and one day we realised—why not actually live it?” says Soutik Ganguly, who heads Travel with Vaya’s PR. Rights were secured, the itinerary was mapped out, and this niche travel company was born.
Set-jetting—ie. choosing travel destinations based on beloved films and TV shows—has been a global phenomenon for years, with luxury travel companies offering immersive, cinema-inspired experiences. The Lord of the Rings fans have long made pilgrimages to New Zealand’s rolling landscapes, while these days, The Last of Us enthusiasts are mapping out their own journeys across Canada to relive their favourite post-apocalyptic adventure. In 2024, Adventures by Disney launched an Encanto-themed trip, inviting travellers to explore Colombia’s vibrant culture and landscapes, mirroring the magical world of the film. Meanwhile, Black Tomato’s The Assignment takes James Bond fans across iconic 007 locations, from the streets of London to the coasts of Monaco and Italy, complete with yacht rides and action-packed experiences.
India, though, is now embracing the trend with a side of Bollywood. A Vaya trip isn’t your typical guided tour where you’re herded around in matching caps and forced into overcrowded attractions. This is about living the movie. The ZNMD package, which is priced at ₹2,50,000, transforms the three-hour film into an eight-day whirlwind. It begins with exploring the vibrant streets of Barcelona, hopping between hole-in-the-wall art galleries, sipping on cocktails at the best tapas bars, and soaking in the city’s rich history. Then comes the open road—an iconic road trip up to Costa Brava in your very own sleek convertible, because how else would you do justice to this experience?
The thrill of adventure is at the heart of Vaya. Just like the film, travellers will find themselves facing exhilarating challenges, from scuba diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean to leaping out of a plane in Seville (don’t worry, a professional will be strapped to you!). But it’s not just about the adrenaline—there are also laid-back moments like sipping wine at sun-drenched vineyards in Girona, and spending nights in stunning mansions overlooking the sea. And when it’s time to unwind? The ancient baths of Granada await, promising pure, Moorish-style relaxation. The trip ends with the iconic Spanish bullfight in Pamplona—an experience specially arranged by the Vaya team since the traditional running of the bulls only takes place on specific dates each year.
The trip is a dream designed for those who are always too busy to plan one. Vaya’s target audience—predominantly 25- to 40-year-olds—are juggling careers, responsibilities, and schedules that barely leave time to reconnect with friends, let alone organise a seamless group vacation. Think Hrithik Roshan’s character from ZNMD—glued to work, pushing off plans, missing out on life. Vaya eliminates that stress, handling all the logistics so travellers can simply show up and immerse themselves in the experience. Ganguly explains, “We wanted to create a space where Bollywood buffs—people who live, breathe, and die for films—can truly live their dream. It’s not about money; it’s about passion, about making those iconic experiences simpler and more accessible. People know the locations, but not always the exact details—we want to bridge that gap and bring their cinematic aspirations to life. And since Atlys makes travel seamless by handling visas, it only made sense for us to facilitate the rest of the journey too.”
Another major perk? It takes away the classic group travel headache—figuring out where to go, what to do, and navigating conflicting preferences. While the itinerary ensures all the iconic moments are covered, there’s still plenty of flexibility. Want to spend the rest of the day sipping cava at a quaint Barcelona café instead? No problem. Prefer to spend more time exploring a historic town while your friends hit the beach? Go for it. The trip is structured enough to ensure you don’t miss out, but relaxed enough that you can make it your own.
Even ahead of its official launch in April, the company is seeing a surge in bookings from groups of childhood friends who want to relive their youth, reconnect, and make new memories in the most epic way possible via their website. While the ZNMD tour is designed for groups of up to 15 people, the Emily in Paris tour caters to smaller groups of one to four, while the Hangover tour is perfect for larger groups. Currently, four such slots have been scheduled for the ZNMD tour in April, most of which have been booked to maximum capacity.
And this is just the beginning. As the venture gains traction, more movie-inspired trips will follow, each designed to let travellers step into their favourite films. The company has plans to replicate Bollywood’s most iconic travel moments—whether it’s swooning over the Swiss Alps DDLJ-style, setting sail on a luxury yacht like Dil Dhadakne Do, or embarking on an emotionally cathartic road trip inspired by Imtiaz Ali’s wanderlust-filled stories (Jab We Met, anyone?).
“People don’t always remember the hotels their favourite characters stayed in, but they remember the feeling they had watching those films,” says Ganguly. And Vaya’s mission is simple: to turn that feeling into reality. So, if you’ve ever daydreamed about living your own movie-worthy adventure, consider this your sign. Pack your bags, queue up the perfect playlist, and get ready to live your cinematic fantasy. Because, after all, zindagi na milegi dobara—why not make it unforgettable?
