Screenwriter Darab Farooqui has voiced serious concerns about the challenges faced by screenwriters in Bollywood, describing the current industry practices as unfair and exploitative. In a thoughtful Twitter post, Farooqui explained how writers often struggle with low pay and long waits for their earnings.
He emphasized that many screenwriters are in a difficult position, stating, “Writers typically receive only 10% of their payment upon signing a contract. After that, they must complete a full script, which might earn them another 10-20% once approved. The remaining payment usually comes only if the project is green-lit with an actor.” This process can leave writers in a precarious financial state, especially in cases where projects are postponed or canceled.
Farooqui highlighted several issues with this model:
1. No writer can rely on just two movies a year to sustain themselves financially. Regardless of their compensation, they might only see 20-30% of the payment until the film is released.
2. The initial draft of a script often represents about 80-85% of the total writing effort, yet writers only receive a small portion of the payment.
3. Newer writers tend to earn even less, forcing them to churn out multiple scripts just to meet basic living expenses.
4. Completing a standard script usually takes around 3-4 months, making it unrealistic for a writer to produce several scripts each year.
5. Producers benefit from this setup, as they can finance multiple projects for the price of one script, effectively shifting the financial risks onto the writers.
6. While writers bear the brunt of these risks, the profits are primarily enjoyed by producers and actors, which raises questions about fairness in the industry.
He criticized the current situation, saying, “This is why we end up with mediocre movies; writers are the backbone of this industry, yet our voices go unheard. The level of exploitation has worsened since COVID-19, becoming the new normal.” Farooqui urged movie lovers to recognize these issues, suggesting that many may be misguided by online influencers or popular opinion.
He concluded with a call for change, stressing that without action, complaints about poor quality in Bollywood films are futile. “If the industry does not foster and protect artists, it will see art suffer,” he warned.
Farooqui’s remarks have sparked important discussions about the need for better financial treatment and timely payments for screenwriters in Bollywood.
