All posts tagged: Screenwriters

Screenwriters Association Awards 2026: Aryan Khan wins big for Ba***ds of Bollywood; check out full list of winners

Screenwriters Association Awards 2026: Aryan Khan wins big for Ba***ds of Bollywood; check out full list of winners

Published by Parlour News

In an era defined by AI, industry transitions, and uncertainty, the Screenwriters Association (SWA) celebrated the vanguard of Indian storytelling at the 7th edition of the SWA Awards. The glittering evening honored writers who continue to push creative boundaries despite challenging times, with The Ba***ds of Bollywood, nail-biting thriller Stolen, and acclaimed prison drama Black Warrant emerging as the night’s biggest winners. Aryan Khan, and Gulzar won major awards at the Screenwriters Association Awards. “In this era of AI, I am happy to see so many living, breathing, whole human beings,” said lyricist and SWA General Secretary, Raj Shekhar, at the ceremony, which presented 15 honours across feature films, web series, television, and lyrics. “I am also very happy to tell you that 2026 will be a historic year when Indian screenwriters will get their royalties for the first time. A 12-year-long battle has been fought and thanks to the Screenwriters Rights Association of India (SRAI), an amount is coming from two Latin American countries, Uruguay and Chile. But even with this small amount, a …

Exclusive! Oscars 2027: Screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi, Niren Bhatt react to AI guidelines

Exclusive! Oscars 2027: Screenwriters Juhi Chaturvedi, Niren Bhatt react to AI guidelines

Published by Parlour News

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced several major rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards (taking place in 2027), focusing on AI restrictions, acting nominations, and international film eligibility. Among the important rules are screenplays must be written by humans, not chatbots, to qualify and acting performances must be demonstrably performed by humans with their consent to be eligible. Noted Indian actors, lyricists, writers and filmmakers spoke to us about their thoughts on the same. Noted screen and dialogue writer and the name behind films like Madras Cafe (2013) and Piku (2015), Juhi Chaturvedi says, “Writing is the sum total of a life lived, experiences I have had, it’s a deep quest that a writer has to want to know things, that pushes you to explore the unknown. That’s what it takes to write an original screenplay written by human beings. Words breathe oxygen into an abstract entity. You pour what you have cried and laugh about into your writing, that’s the human quality in a piece of cinematic writing. AI is …

40 producers, 1000 meetings in 2 days: How Screenwriters’ Association is opening doors for outsiders in Bollywood

40 producers, 1000 meetings in 2 days: How Screenwriters’ Association is opening doors for outsiders in Bollywood

Published by Parlour News

Over the last few years, one of the common complaints of viewers – when it comes to Hindi films and shows – is the lack of originality. Where are the writers creating new stories, original content? That is the question people ask when reading about the umpteenth remake or adaptation. The answer is: ‘in development’. As the industry grows more insular and corporate with each passing year, the writers have taken it upon themselves to seek out fresh talent to bring new voices to the table. And through a pitch fest, they are now allowing the best young writers in the country to get a foot inside the door in a guarded Bollywood. 25 writers meet 40 producers over two days in the Pitch Fest organised by the Screenwriters’ Association of India. What is SWA’s script lab all about? The Screenwriters’ Association of India (SWA) began a Script Lab in 2021, which eventually developed into a Pitch Fest, allowing new writers to pitch their ideas and scripts to everyone from Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra’s …

‘Salim Khan is fine now’: Javed Akhtar gives an update on veteran screenwriter’s health | Bollywood News

‘Salim Khan is fine now’: Javed Akhtar gives an update on veteran screenwriter’s health | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

3 min readMumbaiMar 6, 2026 06:38 PM IST Screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a health scare last month after experiencing a minor brain haemorrhage and was subsequently hospitalized. Doctors earlier confirmed that his condition was stable and that he was being kept under close observation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Several celebrities visited the hospital to check on the veteran screenwriter, including his longtime screenwriting partner and close friend, Javed Akhtar. Now, the lyricist has shared an update on his friend’s health. ‘Salim Khan is fine now’: Javed Akhtar “Salim is fine now. He’s okay and recovering. He’s sitting on a chair and talking, and I mean, he has improved.” he said at a book launch in Delhi on Thursday. Previously, Aamir Khan had also shared an update with the media about Salman Khan’s father’s health. He said, “I went to meet Salim sahab, and we are all praying that he recovers soon. I could not meet him personally since he was in the ICU. I sat with the family.” The actor-filmmaker further added, “Alvira …

Aamir Khan shares Salim Khan’s health update, says veteran screenwriter’s health is improving: ‘Because he is in the ICU…’ | Bollywood News

Aamir Khan shares Salim Khan’s health update, says veteran screenwriter’s health is improving: ‘Because he is in the ICU…’ | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

3 min readChennaiFeb 26, 2026 09:43 AM IST While Salman Khan and his family have maintained silence on Salim Khan’s health, choosing to keep the matter private, Bollywood celebrities close to the family have been sharing updates on the veteran writer’s condition. After Daisy Shah, Aamir Khan has now spoken about Salim Khan’s health. The actor recently visited the veteran screenwriter at the hospital. Aamir spoke to the media at an event, where he shared that although he went to visit Salim Khan at the hospital, he was unable to meet him. But, he did get to spend some time with his family members. He said, “Main Salim sahab se milne gaya tha, hum sab dua kar rahe hain ki voh jaldi se theek hojaayen (I went to meet Salim Sahab, and we are all praying that he recovers soon). Because he is in the ICU, I couldn’t meet him personally, but sat with the family.” The actor further revealed that Salim Khan’s daughter, Alvira Agnihotri, reassured him that her father’s health has been improving …

WGA strike’s chief negotiator Chris Keyser shares this advice for Indian screenwriters to fight for their rights | Bollywood

WGA strike’s chief negotiator Chris Keyser shares this advice for Indian screenwriters to fight for their rights | Bollywood

Published by Webster

Veteran American screenwriter Chris Keyser, who was the co-chair of the Writers Guild of America‘s (WGA) negotiating committee during the historic 2023 WGA strike, wants Indian writers to keep one thing in mind as they fight for their rights: Trust the community. (Also read: Adrien Brody-starrer The Brutalist, nominated for 10 Oscars, to release in India on this date) Veteran American screenwriter Chris Keyser spoke at the Indian Screenwriters Conference. Chris Keyser—who is also the former president of WGA—was the chief guest at the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), which began its 7th edition on Friday. Hosted by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA), ISC kicked off with a special session where Chris was in conversation with acclaimed screenwriter Anjum Rajabali on the rights of the writers and the critical importance of collective bargaining. What Chris Keyser said “I understand that I’m coming from a different industry, we have different rights, we have many different issues although many of them overlap, and I don’t presume to understand but… I’m saying that the process of actually framing …

How Salim Khan Fought To Get Screenwriters Their Due Credit In Cinema

Published by Parlour News

During the initial stages of their career, writers were not credited on film posters. Salim-Javed wrote the screenplay and dialogues for many blockbuster films like Sholay, Seeta aur Geeta, Zanjeer and Yaadon ki Baaraat. The iconic duo of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, known for revolutionising Hindi cinema with their stellar screenwriting, is back in the limelight. Their impactful collaboration birthed legendary films like Sholay, Deewar and Zanjeer, cementing their status as the trailblazers of Indian cinema’s golden era. However, their journey to recognition wasn’t without hurdles. In the nascent stages of their career, writers seldom received credit on film posters, a practice that persisted until the duo decided to challenge the norm. When director Prakash Mehra declined to include their names in the posters of Zanjeer, Salim Khan took matters into his own hands. In a bold move, Salim Khan commandeered a jeep from Sippy Productions and ensured his name adorned posters across the city overnight. This audacious act not only secured recognition for the duo but also paved the way for future writers …

Screenwriters` Association unveils 5th edition of SWA Awards 2024

Published by Webster

The Screenwriters` Association (SWA) proudly announced the commencement of the nomination process for the much-anticipated 5th edition of the SWA Awards 2024. The awards aim to celebrate the brilliance of screenwriters in Indian film, television, lyrics, and the OTT media industry.  A recent survey found that the majority of writers are dissatisfied with the recognition they receive for their contributions. This discontent further extends to their representation in marketing and promotional initiatives, with dissatisfaction rates ranging from 65&#37 to 80&#37 across various types of promotional activities. The SWA Awards are thus a way of celebrating the unsung heroes behind the scenes of our glorious film industry and honouring the exceptional craftsmanship of screenwriters. As the only awards show that proudly proclaims, “Only for Writers, By the Writers`, this annual event aims to place the real architects of imagination at the forefront of recognition and appreciation In its 5th year, the SWA will span over 20 categories, recognizing everything from Web Adaptations to Television and Feature Films, highlighting the diversity and depth of storytelling in Indian …