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This Bollywood Writer To Pen Dev Patel’s Next International Project ‘KNOT’

Speaking about her journey in the industry and her upcoming projects at the RoundTable of the newly launched platform Khul Ke, Atika shared how she is excited about this film.

This Bollywood Writer To Pen Dev Patel’s Next International Project ‘KNOT’
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Writer Atika Chohan best known for her work in Bollywood movies like Chhappak, Guilty and Margarita with A Straw, has written an upcoming film KNOT, which will be produced by Slumdog Millionaire fame Dev Patel. The film which will be an international project, will go on the floors in the second half of 2022.

Speaking about her journey in the industry and her upcoming projects at the RoundTable of the newly launched platform Khul Ke, Atika shared how she is excited about this film.

The newly launched social media platform Khul Ke, is touted at elevating conversations and is the only platform to allow video, audio and text-based conversations amongst moderator & panelists as well as audience. ‘Khul Ke’ lays its foundation in the ‘power of conversations’ and urges artists, influencers, entrepreneurs, brands, consumers, your friends, or like-minded individuals to engage in meaningful conversations. The first guest, panelist  for its RoundTable was the renowned writer Atika Chohan. The session was moderated by Priyanka Sharma.

Atika had been a journalist with CNN-IBN before she became a fiction writer. A graduate from FTII, Atika feels she found her love for writing at the tender age of 6. Coming from a dysfunctional family where her father was battling alcoholism, she found solace in writing and giving vent to her pent-up frustration and anger. At the age of 27, when her marriage collapsed, Atika enrolled herself in FTII for a formal degree in film writing. However, she feels the natural progression to fiction writing came after her stint in journalism.

Atika has delivered some major critically acclaimed films in her career, but talking about success she retorts, “Many people claim to have learnt from my success but if you ask me then I think I am a failure. I think we are in an industry which does not let you have your dues. Success has come to me after 15 years and it has not swept me off my feet”. She went on to further add how even till now she faces disparity in pay between female and male writers.

During the interview, she urged writers to deal with competition with maturity. That they should shed more light on gender dynamics and empower female characters. Atika shared, “Writers are the most integral part of a film and not directors’. Writers need to be connective and corrective in their approach. Give power dynamics to the characters even if the female character does not carry weightage”.  She champions the cause of women empowerment and claims that her work is inspired by the writings of Charlotte Bronte, Virginia Wolf and Jill Soloway.

Talking about battling patriarchy in the industry she revealed, some scathing attacks levelled on her. “I have been called unprofessional by my male counterparts. I have given myself the confidence to be able to give me the recognition for the work I have delivered. If I have pissed them off, I have done a great job!”.

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