CRAFT & PROCESS
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What does your writing routine look like? Are you a disciplined writer or a“ write when inspired” kind?
If you are " write when inspired " kind of Writer, it will be very difficult for you to have a profession in filmmaking! My writing routine really depends on where I’ m at in a particular project. A routine really kicks when a deadline is looming During that time, I prefer to work in the first half: do the actual writing early in the day and do other things like research, polishing and review in the later parts of the day.
Where do your ideas usually come from— is it people, places, or something deeper?
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Combination of all these actually. As a writer, you have to keep your life open to new experiences. Your mind should be open enough to speak with people whose views differ from your own, and you should make the effort to venture into places where you would not otherwise go. I have also been practising Buddhism for the last nine years and my ongoing engagement with Buddhist philosophy and applying it to my life informs and my writing immensely.
What’ s one scene or moment you’ ve written that you’ re most proud of?
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Once long ago, a very sincere human being in my hometown Panipat had emphatically told me: " Jab tak tum Jaise Log Lal Batti wali Gaadi mein nahin Baithoge, Tab tak Is Desh ka kuch nahin Ho Sakta hai”. This person was trying to encourage me to go into politics, which did not happen, but I really took his impulse seriously: that good people with a commitment to justice should go far in the world and have an influence on it; that we should all have a sense of social responsibility. This made it into a scene in Ziddi Girls. It’ s not a scene from one of my episodes but Neha Sharma- my cowriter and codirector wrote the scene beautifully. In it you have one of the key characters. Paro being told this very same thing by her mother, who is an Anganwadi worker, encouraging her to keep going with her education and to become someone of influence. I’ m so happy that I was able to be a part of bringing this onto screen via the show.
How do you tackle writer’ s block or creative fatigue?
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I make sure there are other aspects of my life that have nothing to do with writing are rich and fulfilling. Fatigue only comes when our life becomes small and narrow. I have the good fortune of being a parent to wonderful twin girls who keep me on my toes, I co-parent with my wife who has nothing to do with the industry; I engage in sustainability and art projects for my family carpet business in Panipat, I encourage people through my Buddhist practice, teaching them how to apply Buddhism to their lives, and I read a lot. That the trick is to " keep refilling your cup“.
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