The most renowned Indian screenwriters include Salim-Javed, Gulzar, Anurag Kashyap, Juhi Chaturvedi, Rajkumar Hirani, Habib Faisal and Vishal Bhardwaj, along with newer names such as Kanika Dhillon and Varun Grover. Between them, they wrote Sholay, Deewaar, 3 Idiots, Piku, Masaan and Haider, films that shaped how Hindi cinema tells stories.
Stars sell tickets, but the script decides whether a film lasts. This updated list looks at nine writers whose work changed Hindi cinema, what they are known for and what they are doing now.
- Quick facts: renowned Indian screenwriters
- 1. Salim-Javed: the duo who created the angry young man
- 2. Gulzar: poet and screenwriter
- 3. Anurag Kashyap: the writer who broke the rules
- 4. Juhi Chaturvedi: everyday lives, told simply
- 5. Rajkumar Hirani: big themes in popular films
- 6. Habib Faisal: middle-class realism
- 7. Vishal Bhardwaj: Shakespeare in Indian settings
- 8. Kanika Dhillon: modern relationships and thrillers
- 9. Varun Grover: writer, lyricist and director
- What these screenwriters have in common
- Frequently asked questions
Quick facts: renowned Indian screenwriters
| Writer | Best-known films or shows | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Salim-Javed | Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Don | 6 Filmfare Awards as a duo |
| Gulzar | Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam, Ijaazat, Maachis | Oscar, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Jnanpith |
| Anurag Kashyap | Satya, Black Friday, Dev.D, Gangs of Wasseypur | Filmfare awards for Udaan’s story and screenplay |
| Juhi Chaturvedi | Vicky Donor, Piku, October, Gulabo Sitabo | National Awards for Piku |
| Rajkumar Hirani | Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots, PK, Dunki | 4 National Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards |
| Habib Faisal | Do Dooni Chaar, Band Baaja Baaraat, Ishaqzaade | National Award for Do Dooni Chaar |
| Vishal Bhardwaj | Maqbool, Omkara, Haider, Kaminey | 9 National Awards |
| Kanika Dhillon | Manmarziyaan, Haseen Dillruba, Do Patti | IIFA Digital Award 2025 |
| Varun Grover | Masaan, Sacred Games | National Award for lyrics |
1. Salim-Javed: the duo who created the angry young man
Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar wrote together from 1971 to 1982 and are credited with 24 films. Zanjeer (1973), Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Don (1978) and Trishul (1978) built the “angry young man” hero played by Amitabh Bachchan.
Also readRichest WWE Wrestlers 2026: Top 10 Ranked by Net Worth
They were among the first Hindi film writers to get their names on posters. Their story was retold in the 2024 Prime Video docuseries Angry Young Men, and Sholay marked 50 years in August 2025.
2. Gulzar: poet and screenwriter
Gulzar is known to many as a lyricist, but he is also one of Hindi cinema’s finest writers and directors. Koshish, Aandhi (1975), Mausam (1975), Ijaazat and Maachis (1996) show his quiet, character-driven style.
He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2013 and the Jnanpith Award, announced in 2024. He also received the Padma Bhushan in 2004.
3. Anurag Kashyap: the writer who broke the rules
Kashyap co-wrote Satya (1998) with Saurabh Shukla, a film that changed the Mumbai crime drama. As a writer-director he went on to make Black Friday, Dev.D and the two-part Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). He also shared Filmfare awards for the story and screenplay of Udaan.
His recent films include Nishaanchi (2025) and Bandar, released in June 2026. He has moved from Mumbai to Bengaluru and has also been acting, including a well-received villain role in the Tamil film Maharaja (2024).
4. Juhi Chaturvedi: everyday lives, told simply
A former advertising professional, Juhi Chaturvedi writes the story, screenplay and dialogue of her films. Vicky Donor (2012), Piku (2015), October (2018) and Gulabo Sitabo (2020) are built on ordinary families and small moments.
Piku won her National Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Dialogues. Her long collaboration with director Shoojit Sircar is one of the most consistent writer-director pairings in Hindi cinema.
5. Rajkumar Hirani: big themes in popular films
Hirani writes and directs crowd-pleasers that carry a message. Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), Sanju (2018) and Dunki (2023) all mix humour with social comment.
He has worked closely with co-writer Abhijat Joshi since Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Hirani has four National Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards. Reports say his next feature, with Vicky Kaushal, is expected to begin production in 2026.
6. Habib Faisal: middle-class realism
Habib Faisal wrote Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) and Fan (2016), and wrote and directed Do Dooni Chaar (2010), Ishaqzaade (2012) and Daawat-e-Ishq (2014). His stories often sit inside small towns and middle-class homes.
Do Dooni Chaar, his directorial debut, won the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film. His later work includes the web series Dil Bekaraar (2021).
7. Vishal Bhardwaj: Shakespeare in Indian settings
Bhardwaj is a composer, writer and director best known for his Shakespeare trilogy: Maqbool (2003, from Macbeth), Omkara (2006, from Othello) and Haider (2014, from Hamlet). Kaminey and Pataakha show his range outside Shakespeare.
He has won nine National Film Awards. His recent work includes the Netflix spy film Khufiya (2023), the series Charlie Chopra and the Mystery of Solang Valley, and the 2026 film O’Romeo.
8. Kanika Dhillon: modern relationships and thrillers
Kanika Dhillon started at Red Chillies Entertainment before turning to novels and screenplays. Her credits include Manmarziyaan and Kedarnath (2018), Judgementall Hai Kya (2019), Haseen Dillruba (2021), Raksha Bandhan (2022) and Dunki (2023), which she co-wrote.
Do Patti (2024) was her first production under Kathha Pictures and won her the IIFA 2025 Digital Award for Best Story.
9. Varun Grover: writer, lyricist and director
Varun Grover wrote Masaan (2015), which won two prizes in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. He co-wrote the Netflix series Sacred Games and won a National Award for the lyrics of “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage”.
He made his directorial debut with All India Rank, a coming-of-age film about a student preparing for entrance exams. More film features are in our Entertainment section.
What these screenwriters have in common
- Strong characters: Vijay in Deewaar, Bhashkor Banerjee in Piku and Rancho in 3 Idiots are remembered more than many plot twists.
- A sense of place: Old Delhi, Varanasi, Kashmir and small-town Uttar Pradesh are almost characters in their films.
- Dialogue people repeat: lines from Salim-Javed and Hirani films are still quoted decades later.
Readers interested in writing for films can find more career and learning stories in our Education section, and profiles of creative people under People.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most famous screenwriter in Indian cinema?
Salim-Javed are often named as the most influential Hindi film screenwriters. Their scripts for Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay changed the Hindi film hero in the 1970s.
Which Indian screenwriter won an Oscar?
Gulzar won an Academy Award, but for writing the lyrics of the song “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire, not for a screenplay.
Who wrote Piku and Vicky Donor?
Juhi Chaturvedi wrote both films. Piku won her National Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Dialogues.
Who are the best female screenwriters in Bollywood?
Juhi Chaturvedi and Kanika Dhillon are two of the most successful women screenwriters working in Hindi cinema today.
Sources: Salim-Javed (Wikipedia), Gulzar (Wikipedia), Juhi Chaturvedi (Wikipedia), Vishal Bhardwaj (Wikipedia).
