• Initiative seeks to expand the reach of Emirati creative talent by giving them a chance to write for Bollywood, the world’s largest movie industry
  • ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ features partnership with some of India’s largest film studios
  • Shortlisted screenwriters attend interactive workshop conducted by renowned Bollywood screenplay writer
  • Saeed Al Janahi: “We were delighted to see the positive response to ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ as it demonstrates the scope and ambition of Emirati filmmaking talent.”
  • “The ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ initiative seeks to unearth gifted screenwriters who have the talent and ambition to excel on a global stage.”

Dubai, UAE: ‘Ticket to Bollywood’, a groundbreaking new initiative to develop Emirati screenwriting talent in cooperation with international film production houses, was announced today. The ‘initiative provides promising Emirati scriptwriters an opportunity to write a script for a Bollywood movie.  

A total of 10 Emirati screenwriters have been selected to proceed to the next stage of the talent initiative being organised by the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC).

The initiative aims to expand the reach of Emirati creative talent by giving them a chance to write for the glamorous world of Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry in terms of number of movies produced. An open casting call organised earlier in partnership with some of India’s largest film studios invited aspiring local screenwriters to participate in the initiative

The screenwriters shortlisted from the initial submissions attended an exclusive workshop featuring renowned Indian screenplay writer Althea Kaushal. Kaushal has worked on major blockbusters including Happy New Year directed by Farah Khan and starring Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, ‘Noor’ starring Sonakshi Sinha and Game starring Abhishek Bachchan. Kaushal will share tips on writing a Bollywood script, pulling from her extensive storytelling experience in the film and ad industry, followed by an interactive Q&A.

The session provided the Emirati screenwriters with opportunities to learn the tricks of the trade, hone their creative talent and sharpen their narrative skills in preparation for the final round of the ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ initiative. Following the workshop, the attendees are required to submit a story exploring topics of their choosing within the genres of drama, action, thriller or romance. The final scripts will be evaluated by a jury of industry experts with a chance to transform the selected scripts into Bollywood productions. 

Saeed Al Janahi, Director of Operations at DFTC, said: “We were immensely delighted to see the positive response to ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ as it demonstrates the scope and ambition of Emirati filmmaking talent. Along with our mandate to enhance Dubai’s reputation as a place for film and TV production, we consider it essential to use our far-reaching network and platform to elevate local creative talent with opportunities to learn, grow and expand their reach. Althea Kaushal’s addition to our initiative will give the shortlisted writers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from an industry veteran as they embark on their own task of developing a Bollywood script in the final round. We are looking forward to seeing how this workshop will inspire our talent and impact the work they deliver – I am sure it will be a very competitive and difficult selection for the jury.”

“The ‘Ticket to Bollywood’ initiative seeks to unearth gifted screenwriters who have the talent and ambition to excel on a global stage. Through further programmes like these, we will continue to provide exciting opportunities for Emirati creative talent to work with leading industry professionals and gain recognition for their craft,” he added.  

‘Ticket to Bollywood’ also builds on the long-standing relationship between UAE and India, which is marked by decades of cultural and social exchange. Dubai’s iconic filming locations have proven a favourite among India’s leading directors and actors – including Kaushal’s Happy New Year.  The city offers natural and urban settings suitable for different storylines. Dubai Studio City, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, offers world-class filmmaking and production infrastructure including one of the world’s largest soundstages as well as boutique studios, workshops and a five-metre-deep water tank studio that can be used in its entirety for feature films or divided using elephant doors.

Dubai has been chosen by various major international productions as a location for their movies, attracted by its superior infrastructure, exceptional support services and exciting locales. Big-budget international blockbusters shot in Dubai include Syriana, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Star Trek Beyond, Vanguard and a host of major Bollywood movies including Happy New Year.

DFTC was launched in 2012 to support the growth of the film production industry in Dubai and promote the emirate as a filming and production hub regionally and internationally. The Commission offers access to state-of-the-art digital solutions that enable production companies, freelancers and more to seamlessly search and apply for location permits across the emirate.

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