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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Plagiarism, missing credits, stolen scripts: How Bollywood writers are fighting back against exploitation, malpractice
For Rajat (name changed), a 29-year-old writer looking to get his big break in Hindi cinema, getting a call from a known production house about his story was a big deal. This was right after the pandemic, when the OTT boom had begun. The producers assured his story was ripe for a web series with a major player. Rajat worked for months on the concept, fleshing out a cohesive story, but it did not pan out. "It was disappointing, but not the end of the road," I told myself. Rajat got paid for his work and was told that the story was not working, and hence, the makers had decided to go in a different direction. Imagine his surprise when he came across the trailer for a series on a big platform, some two years later, with the concept of his story, just with the setting and a few characters changed. "I questioned the producers, and they told me that they took the idea and fleshed it out with another writer. I told them it was wrong, and they said I signed off on it," the writer says. He won't go into the illegality of the contract he entered, but Rajat says he didn't fight the producers. "I had gotten more work since then, and did not want to be seen as problematic. What hurt me was that nobody would know that the show was mine. As a writer, the credit being missing hurt." To think this is a stray incident would be trivialising just how rampant missing credits, stolen scripts, and plagiarism are in the Hindi entertainment industry. The emergence of web shows and films on streaming may have democratised stories in the Indian entertainment landscape, but it has also resulted in a corporate-driven boom of malpractice and exploitation. And at the receiving end are the writers. But the fightback has begun, and quite spectacularly so. Two incidents in the month of May raised eyebrows about plagiarism, or rather stealing of scripts, in the Indian entertainment scene. One was the widely reported incident of the Prime Video series Gram Chikitsalay being accused of using a plagiarised script for the show. The matter is sub-judice. Another involved a writer posting their experience of being wronged by an unnamed OTT giant, which used their story without credit. The post has since been deleted. Figures from the Screenwriters Association (SWA) say that during a two-month period last year, the body received 98 such complaints. Encouragingly, more than 60 of these have since been closed. Charudutt Acharya is a veteran screenwriter who has written films like Vaastu Shastra and Dum Maaro Dum, as well as shows such as Crime Patrol and Duranga. Talking about this proliferation of 'stolen' stories, he says, "Old school narration has gone away. There used to be a method where you wouldn't give away the entire plot until you were signed, and narrations took place sitting at a table across from each other. Now, there are so many production houses, and everyone wants the full script with outline and pitch note. Then, there are so many people in the intermediary. Scripts go through too many hands now. The chain of command is too long now. It's easy for some misguided person to 'borrow' a script and make it their own, or give it to someone else." Zama Habib, who has written for TV shows and films for over 30 years, serves as the General Secretary of the SWA. He says the problem of stolen ideas and plagiarism does not always arise from producers. "There are times when some other writer develops an idea originally conceived by some other idea, and the producer omits the credit of the original writer. This can be because the other writer is a bigger name, who may look better on the poster." But writers say that in these rewrites, the other writers are also complicit. "The veterans need to take a stand," says a writer on the condition of anonymity, "I once requested a veteran writer who was hired to 'change' my script, to request the producers to keep my credit. But they said I hadn't done enough work to make that demand. That sort of attitude does not help." In the West, the Writers Guild of America famously went on strike in 2023, bringing Hollywood to its knees. The strike was joined by top Hollywood stars, and the studios, facing losses in the millions, buckled. One may ask why that wouldn't work in India. For one, there is no similar union for writers in India. The closest a body comes to the WGA is the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA), a writers' body that has been attempting to solve these issues. Preeti Mamgain, a writer who has worked on TV shows like Everest and Aasman Se Aage and the film Mohen Jo Daro, is also the President of the SWA's Dispute Settlement Committee. She explains what has changed, 'There were times when writers entered into contracts, shouldn't even call them contracts, actually, but writers sold their stories and scripts for as low as Re 1. People used to believe the producers were doing me a favour by making a film on my stories. In the last two decades, the avenues for writers have opened up. Now, writers have a choice.' The SWA has negotiated several cases wherein producers have been forced to acknowledge the writers' work and even pay them damages. "There have been several cases, some that came to the limelight and others that were settled out of court. But in those cases, producers and corporates paid writers big amounts of money. Due to that, producers have become more aware. Even writers are more aware of signing contracts and MoUs. The contracts may still be a little one-sided, but that can still be contested later," Preeti adds. Through its Dispute Settlement Committee, the SWA has established a procedure to analyse these allegations, wherein scripts are studied by impartial experts, and a report is made comparing the two drafts. This report analyses the story, the plot points, the tone, the characters, and even subtle things like the highs and the lows. It is an attempt to make a subjective art of storytelling as scientific as possible. The involvement of a body like the SWA largely works in getting the producers to toe the line, writers say. A writer informs about a film script they wrote for a small production house. After they were told to rewrite, the writer asked for money based on the work done so far, and was told to take a hike, albeit in not-so-polite terms. They approached the SWA and were assigned a lawyer by the body. Within a week of that, the money came into their accounts, and their credits were restored. But bigger production houses don't spook easily, writers agree. Zama Habib says, "In such cases, where courts are the only recourse, we even provide the writers with legal help, up to a certain amount. But the onus is on the writers to fight that battle. Many choose to, and such cases have come in the news as well. But even today, many writers don't choose to go ahead. In a country like India, where copyright is constitutionally protected, the legal fight will always favour you if you are right. But, the fear of a long legal battle deters many." Habib notes that often, courts have taken into cognisance SWA's analyses of scripts, which gives not just credibility to the organisation as an arbiter, but also confidence to the writers. Yet, it's a long road ahead!
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did you know Gulshan Devaiah eats just one meal a day to stay lean and healthy at 47?
Gulshan Devaiah , the talented actor known for his work in films like 'Dahaad', and 'Hunterrr' celebrated his 47th birthday on May 28. What makes his fitness routine stand out is his unusual diet, he eats just one meal a day. In a June 2024 interview with CNN-News18, Gulshan opened up about how the One Meal a Day (OMAD) diet helps him keep a lean body and stay healthy. Why Gulshan chose the OMAD diet The 'Dum Maaro Dum' actor explained why he started this strict eating plan back in 2018. He said, 'Mostly I eat once a day; I say mostly because it's not every day, but I try and be as consistent with it as much as possible. So, I would say 300 out of 365 days I would eat one meal a day.' He found it hard to keep his eating habits steady before. 'I was finding it very difficult to be consistent with my eating habits because most of us eat more than what is really necessary for us. And then that ends up in some weight gain and some other health problems... I was finding it very difficult to maintain a certain ideal weight and look... it's (OMAD) not for everybody but I think I really like it because I don't really like to be on diets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo ' Gulshan likes that OMAD lets him eat the foods he enjoys. 'So this way I'm able to eat foods that I enjoy, but also because I eat mostly once a day, how much will I eat? So it automatically restricts portions.' The challenge of getting enough nutrients Eating just one meal a day is not without its challenges. The 'Shaitan' actor admitted, 'That is a challenge. You have to eat a variety of different types of foods.' He shared a common mistake he made at first, 'The one common mistake that I made initially was, when I'm working during the day, I eat my meal after I'm done, so that's almost like half an hour before going to bed. That sometimes would cause me a little bit of acidity in the morning.' To fix this, he had to change what he ate. 'So, I had to also cut out certain types of foods... I have to keep switching between foods and include different vegetables and fruits and keep changing them seasonally, which I was not very good at doing.' Despite his best efforts, Gulshan faces some vitamin shortages. 'So, I would have some deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, for which I would take vitamin supplements... my D3 is usually on the lower side because I don't consume a lot of dairy products.' Sticking to the routine most days The 'Guns & Gulaabs' actor tries to be consistent with his one meal a day plan. Eating one meal on about 300 days a year shows his dedication. While it's not every day, this routine helps him stay in shape and avoid the ups and downs of other diets. Why OMAD works for Gulshan Gulshan's approach to eating once a day is simple but effective. It helps him control how much he eats without feeling like he is on a strict diet. As he said, 'I don't really like to be on diets. So this way I'm able to eat foods that I enjoy, but also because I eat mostly once a day, how much will I eat? So it automatically restricts portions.' This natural portion control is what keeps his weight in check and helps him maintain a lean look. Kartik Aaryan: 'SRK Always Talks About My Films' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Neena Gupta sings Dum Maaro Dum to granddaughter; Masaba jokes, ‘It's miracle I turned out ok'
Masaba Gupta embraced motherhood in October last year when she welcomed her baby girl with husband Satyadeep Misra. Now, the designer has shared a heartwarming glimpse of her mother, Neena Gupta, sharing a tender moment with her granddaughter, Matara. The adorable bond between the grandmother and granddaughter has left fans gushing. (Also Read: Neena Gupta recalls being thrown out of aunt's house after Masaba's birth, how a kind builder helped her) On Thursday, Masaba took to Instagram to share an adorable video of Neena singing to her granddaughter. The actor was seen holding Matara in her arms while singing Dum Maaro Dum. It looks like Matara was enjoying the performance and engaging with Neena with her sweet little sounds. Masaba shared only a glimpse of Neena, choosing to keep her daughter's face hidden. Sharing the video, Masaba wrote, 'Mozart for babies < Nani singing whatever comes to mind. It's a miracle I turned out ok. @neena_gupta.' A post shared by Masaba (@masabagupta) Fans couldn't stop gushing over Neena's bond with her granddaughter. One fan commented, 'Neena ji is nani goals!' Another wrote, 'Hahaha, such a cool nani the little one has!' One user noted, 'In her defence, she is singing Hare Krishna Hare Ram. How adorable though.' Another added, 'Neena-ji in her nani era is so cute.' A fan even wrote, 'Got to be the cutest nani ever!' Some also praised her youthful looks in her 60s, commenting, 'She hasn't aged at all… Need to know the secret behind her beauty.' Masaba and Satyadeep revealed that their first baby was born on 11 October. '11.10.24,' they wrote, sharing a post with an evil eye emoji. They also shared a monochrome picture of the baby's tiny feet, along with a white lotus and a moon set against a blue backdrop. The post read, 'Our very special little girl arrived on a very special day. 11.10.2024. Masaba & Satyadeep.' Earlier, in an interview with ANI, Neena spoke about her bond with her granddaughter and said, 'I don't feel like a grandmother. In fact, I've told the little one not to call me nani, but to call me Neena.' Masaba was recently seen in a special dance number, Khumaari, in Kesari Chapter 2. The film stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday in lead roles. Meanwhile, Neena will next be seen in the film Dino. Directed by Anurag Basu, the film also features Ali Fazal, Anupam Kher, Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on July 4.
India.com
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress who was taller than Rishi Kapoor, he got angry after..., her name is…
It is said that in the 90s, the careers of tall heroines could not become a hit because of the three Khans (Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir Khan). These include the names of Sushmita Sen, Pooja Batra, and Sonu Walia. Katrina Kaif is also taller than these three Khans and has given superhit films with all three. We are going to tell you a story of a heroine taller than the hero. This story begins with Kapoor family superstar Rishi Kapoor, who got angry after seeing an actress taller than him on the shooting set. The situation on the shooting set became such that the director had to use a cushion for this romantic scene. Who is this beauty? This anecdote has been shared by Zeenat Aman herself on social media. Among the old actresses, Zeenat Aman is the most active on Instagram and keeps sharing interesting anecdotes every day. In her recent post, the 'Dum Maaro Dum' actress has shared a funny anecdote, in which she said that two cushions were used to make Rishi Kapoor taller. The actress said, 'It is about Nasir Hussain's film Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin, Rishi was in the film, and I had a cameo in a qawwali song. Here, a flirting scene was to be shot, and Chintu ji got irritated seeing my height. ' What was the whole scene? The actress further said, 'Nasir considered me a lucky charm, because I had worked in his film Yaadon Ki Baaraat, and the film became a hit, so he requested me to come in the film's qawwali, a flirt scene had to be done on the couch, Rishi had a scene of sitting on the couch, but there was a difference in our height in the scene, this irritated Chintu ji, then he made her sit on not one but two cushions so that the balance of the actress and the actor is maintained'. Let us tell you, Zeenat Aman keeps sharing her beautiful pictures on social media every day. The actress is turning 73 today, but her style and beauty have not diminished at all.
News18
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Papon Reveals How Song Jiyein Kyun Changed Everything For Him In Bollywood
According to Papon, Rohan Sippy met him after his performance in Mumbai, and later, Pritam called him to offer the breakthrough song. It was the song Jiyein Kyun from Dum Maaro Dum that catapulted Papon to fame. Composed by Pritam and written by Jaideep Sahni, the emotional track opened doors to numerous opportunities, establishing him as one of the most sought-after singers in the industry. Reflecting on the pivotal role of the melancholic tune in his career, Papon recently shared in an interview that music maestro Pritam offered him the song after being impressed by his independent Assamese album, Jonaki Raati. Talking to Hindustan Times, Papon admitted, 'Jiyein Kyun was my first big break in Bollywood. Technically, the first song I sang in Bollywood was Sajana from Let's Enjoy (2004), but Jiyein Kyun changed everything for me." The singer mentioned that Bollywood was never his priority before Jiyein Kyun came his way. Looking back, Papon recalled that he was offered the song after a performance in Mumbai. He shared that director Rohan Sippy approached him after the show, and music composer Pritam called him to appreciate his talent before offering him the breakthrough track that would define his career. As the conversation progressed, Papon also shared how Jiyein Kyun challenged the industry's vocal norms at the time of its release. Unlike other playback singers, Papon's earthy tone stood out, making it difficult for others to place his voice against the typical Bollywood hero sound, which was often more polished and conventional. Papon continued, 'Back then, everyone was singing high. I was the only newcomer who sang that low. I actually recorded it seven semitones lower than it was originally composed by Pritam da, and that distinct depth became both a unique strength and, initially, a challenge as well. It was difficult to place a voice like mine against the typical Bollywood hero." The depth of the song struck a chord with the audience, eventually becoming an anthem for lovers introspecting after heartbreak. Concluding, Papon expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Pritam and Rohan Sippy for the opportunity. He remarked, 'It's one of my absolute favourites to sing live. I sincerely thank Pritam Da and Rohan Sippy for trusting my voice." The Assamese singer has many hits, including Moh Moh Ke Dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha), Kyon (Barfi!), Humnava (Hamari Adhuri Kahani) and Bulleya (Sultan) to his credit. First Published:
