Screenwriter Niren Bhatt on the Changing Film Industry

At the 7th Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC) on Friday, well-known screenwriter and lyricist Niren Bhatt spoke about the struggles and opportunities for writers in Bollywood. His film was the only major Hindi success of 2024, making his insights even more valuable.

The Best and Worst Time for Writers

Bhatt shared a realistic but hopeful message with the audience.

“The situation looks bad—writers are struggling, and it feels like the worst time to be in the industry. But at the same time, it’s also the best time because all the old rules are gone. The system is broken, and only those who disrupt the norm will survive. Writers are natural disruptors. Right now, those who refuse to change are failing. It’s the best time for disruption.”

Bollywood’s Struggle with Remakes

During the session ‘The Mainstream Reality’, Bhatt spoke alongside other famous writers, including Abbas Tyrewala (Pathaan), Kanika Dhillon, and Aakash Kaushik (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2). The session was moderated by Hitesh Kewalya (Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan).

Bhatt criticized Bollywood’s obsession with remakes, noting that most of them have flopped.

“Out of 25 remakes after the pandemic, 23 failed. The only way to succeed now is to create original content.”

The Power of Original Storytelling

As a writer for the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, Bhatt is working on several upcoming films, including:

• Thama (starring Ayushmann Khurrana & Rashmika Mandanna)
• Stree 3
• Bhediya 2 (starring Varun Dhawan)

He believes that writers who find their unique voice can extend the life of a franchise by making it fresh and exciting.

Insights from Other Industry Experts

The ISC event, which ended on Sunday, featured top filmmakers and writers such as Kiran Rao, Shoojit Sircar, Nikkhil Advani, Dibakar Banerjee, Biswapati Sarkar, and Anand Tiwari. They shared their experiences and discussed how the industry is changing with new challenges and opportunities.

With Bollywood at a turning point, one thing is clear—originality is the key to success!