Ahaan Got Stardom After Saiyaara, Mimi’s Kriti Won National Award; Did Writer Rohan Get Due Credit? | Exclusive | Bollywood News

Last Updated:April 10, 2026, 16:09 IST

In an exclusive chat with News18, Rohan Shankar also called for a push to have writers’ names mentioned on posters.

Rohan praised Ahaan and Kriti for taking his name during interviews.

In the glittering Bollywood ecosystem, where stars dominate headlines and directors and producers often become the face of a film’s vision, the writer, who is the very architect of the story, frequently remains invisible. Writers in the Hindi film industry have long struggled to receive the recognition, respect, and compensation they deserve.

There was a time when this wasn’t entirely the case. The legendary duo of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, responsible for scripting iconic films like Sholay, Deewaar, and Zanjeer, commanded not just respect but also financial power. Their names were prominently featured on film posters, and their influence was undeniable.

Today, however, that dynamic has shifted dramatically. While actors continue to command massive fees and directors and producers often build personal brands, writers are rarely part of mainstream conversations around a film’s success. Their names appear in the credits, but seldom in promotional campaigns or media narratives.

In an exclusive chat with News18, writer Rohan Shankar, who has worked on films like Mimi, Saiyaara, Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan, to name a few, reflects on writers not being brought to the forefront in our cinema. According to Rohan, this issue persists mainly in the Hindi film industry, and bigwigs who have a say must stand up for writers.

‘Marathi, Malayalam Industries Treat Writers Better’

Rohan Shankar says, “I think in India, if you look at industries like Marathi or Malayalam, writers are in a better position. They are more respected there because a writer is essentially the foundation of cinema, and you can see that clearly in those industries. In the Hindi film industry, there was a time when this respect existed, but now things have changed.”

‘Big Stars Need To Advocate For Writers, Include Their Names On Posters’

He opines, “Directors, producers, and especially big stars need to talk about it and push for it. They need to insist that writers get credit on posters, that writers are included in promotions, and are present in conversations around the film. It should come from them because they are in a stronger position. Those who are more powerful are the ones who can make these changes happen.”

“I think it’s time for big stars, directors, and producers to step up and support writers. At least take a stand for them. If a writer is facing difficulties or not getting their due, someone needs to speak up for them. I’ve seen this more in Malayalam and some other industries, where people truly believe that the writer is the most important part of the process. Everyone knows that without writing, nothing can be created. That support needs to come from the top,” the writer reiterates.

One of Rohan’s earlier works, Mimi (story, screenplay and dialogues), became a critically acclaimed film and touched upon the rather cinematically unexplored topic of surrogacy. Kriti Sanon, who headlined the film, even won the National Award for Best Actress. Rohan’s more recent work was Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara (dialogues), which was credited with reviving blockbuster romcoms in Bollywood. The film’s lead pair, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, became massively popular in the mainstream.

‘Kriti Sanon, Ahaan Panday Often Give Credit’

What does this mean for the writer? Rohan says, “It makes me very happy. It gives me a lot of satisfaction. Whether it’s Kriti or Ahaan, they often take my name as the writer when they talk about the work. When I meet them, they acknowledge it too. But honestly, even if a dialogue works, it’s because the actors have delivered it so well.”

“Writers cannot do anything without actors. You can write the best dialogue in the world, but it only connects or becomes popular if the actor performs it well. So all those reels and viral moments—credit also goes to the actors who delivered those lines beautifully and to the directors who shaped those scenes. It’s a collective effort,” he explains.

‘Writers Do Not Seek Fame’

Rohan Shankar adds, “Still, it feels good when you write something thinking it might connect with people, and then you see it trending or being shared widely. I’ve received messages from people saying certain lines touched them, and that feels incredibly rewarding. For a writer, that connection is the biggest success. Writers are not really here for fame. Whether their photo is shared or not doesn’t matter as much. What matters is that what they’ve written reaches as many people as possible and resonates with them. That is bigger than any award.”

Has Rohan Shankar Received His Due Credit For Mimi, Saiyaara?

Asked if he thinks he received his due credit for Mimi and Saiyaara, Rohan pauses, smiles and says, “Yes. Let me explain. Mimi was entirely about motherhood—a young girl, her family, and what she goes through. We adapted it from another film, but we changed almost everything except the core idea. While writing the dialogues, it was very challenging because I had to feel what a mother feels.”

He explains, “If a child is growing inside you, what emotions would you experience? Why doesn’t Mimi give up the child? Why doesn’t she choose abortion? Because she feels that there is life inside her. I had to truly feel that to write those lines—I couldn’t fake it. If I wrote it superficially, it wouldn’t connect. There are also scenes where the child’s biological parents want the baby back, and Mimi refuses. Those emotional conversations went through multiple drafts. Emotional dialogue is tricky.”

As for Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s film, Rohan says, “Saiyaara, on the other hand, was about young, urban characters in their early twenties, dealing with their own struggles and conflicts. The emotional intensity was very high. I had never written such intense romance before, so that was also challenging, but I enjoyed it a lot.”

‘Writers Keep Working Even If They Are Paid Less Because It’s A Fulfilling Process’

“Writing allows you to explore yourself. Even if writers are paid less, they continue because the process itself is fulfilling. Sometimes you write lines and don’t even realise those emotions existed within you until they come out on paper. That definitely happened with both Saiyaara and Mimi. Both films were well received, and I’m truly happy with whatever I could contribute to them,” the writer concludes.

Rohan’s latest work, Bhooth Bangla, will be released in theatres on April 17. The film is directed by Priyadarshan and stars Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi and Tabu in prominent roles.