‘Gangubai’ scripter says Bollywood neglects writers

Panaji: Utkarshini Vashishtha, the screenwriter of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s acclaimed film Gangubai Kathiawadi, highlighted the stark neglect faced by writers within the glamorous realm of Bollywood. Despite the movie’s success and accolades, Vashishtha revealed her ongoing battle for recognition and respect in the industry. She was speaking on the sidelines of the Film Bazaar held alongside Iffi.

“The writing field is devoid of glamour. The glamour is only for the director and the actor,” she said, as she expressed her disappointment at being sidelined at an award ceremony despite clinching two awards for her writing contributions.

Vashishtha’s distressing experience included being asked to step down from a car allocated to her at the event to make way for someone else. “The person who was going to dance at the ceremony on stage, was given two cars, one for her and another for her make-up artist,” she said, adding, “This is the reason why many writers do not feel encouraged to join the film industry.”

Despite this, she said the creative satisfaction that the writing domain offers encourages aspiring writers not to lose hope. “If you’re coming for the glamour, then it’s better not to,” she said, cautioning aspiring writers.

However, Vashishtha clarified that she was not referring to the National Awards.

Reflecting on her own journey, Vashishtha recalled the lack of opportunities and platforms when she began her career a decade or more ago. She recounted reaching out to experienced writers on social media in hope of securing assistance opportunities, underlining the struggles prevalent in the earlier days of her career.

Despite the challenges, She acknowledged the current advancements and the increased exposure and platforms available to young writers through workshops and networking opportunities, signifying a positive shift in the industry.