How Ajit Menon & Anil Verma walked away from success to build India’s next cinematic story universe

Sometimes, the most interesting stories are written by people who choose to change the direction of their own lives. A few years ago, Ajit Menon was working in corporate boardrooms, shaping strategy and leading teams at senior levels. At the same time, Anil Verma was building a career in India’s advertising industry, creating campaigns and establishing a reputation in the field. Both had stable careers that many spend years striving towards.

Then something unexpected happened — they chose to step away.

Not because their careers were failing, but because they wanted to focus on storytelling. The decision surprised friends and colleagues; leaving a corporate or advertising career to become a writer is not a common move. But Ajit and Anil decided to pursue writing more seriously.

Both authors come from middle-class families where discipline and hard work shaped their upbringing. Like many Indians, they spent their early years building stable careers and fulfilling responsibilities. Writing remained a personal interest – until they chose to give it more time and attention.

Five years later, that decision has evolved into a collaborative partnership in India’s publishing space. The duo has written four books, published by leading publishing houses. Their works have also featured in Top 15 Must-Read lists for two consecutive years.

Their writing has drawn attention for its cinematic style. Written in simple English, their stories move with the pace of film narratives — visual scenes, dialogue-driven storytelling, and chapters that often end on moments of tension. Many readers say their books feel like watching a film unfold.

As Ajit explains, “In a world where attention spans are shrinking, storytelling must evolve. We write cinematically so that readers remain engaged.”

Some have compared their partnership to that of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, combining complementary strengths. Beyond novels, they also work on screenplays, songs and music, often shaping stories with potential for screen adaptation.

Their work spans genres — crime fiction, thrillers, courtroom drama, paranormal, horror, slice-of-life and espionage. Their latest novel, The Dealer — part of the six-part Panther’s Ghosts series — explores global espionage and geopolitical intrigue, with ambitions of building a long-form franchise.

For two writers who stepped away from established careers, their journey continues to evolve — with future stories likely to move beyond print into visual media.





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