Writers Aren't Paid Well, Nor Are They Given Recognition: Farah Khan

From Om Shanti Om (2007) to Happy New Year (2014), most of the films that Farah Khan has directed have been super hits. But a film is as much a writer’s medium as it’s the director’s. Ask her if there’s a dearth of good writers in the film industry and if it needs more focus, she says, “Unfortunately for writers, they don’t have any motivation to write because they are not well paid. They are not given the importance that they rightly deserve.

Ultimately, a writer writes the script, and that’s the foundation of the film. A lot of people just want to become directors, so we don’t have many good writers. If the writers are underrated and underpaid, then why will they all work hard? No wonder they all want to become directors.”

So what can be done to improve the situation? “I think when you pay them well, give them their due, their credit, it will make a difference. Their names should also be mentioned during promotions when the makers are planning their publicity activities [for a movie]. I think more and more people will get motivated to write and become writers then. I find that there is a lack of motivation. I certainly don’t blame them for it,” says the Main Hoon Naa Director.