Ajay Kumar at 18:55, 27 September 2023

2023-09-27T18:55:25Z

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{{short description|Indian author and screenwriter|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kanika Dhillon
| image =
| caption = Kanika Dhillon at Jio MAMI, 2019
| other names =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1982|08|24}}
| birth_place = [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = {{hlist|Producer|Author|screenwriter}}
| nationality = Indian
| alma mater = [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi|St. Stephen's College]]<br/>[[London School of Economics]]
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Prakash Kovelamudi]]|2014|2017|end =div}}{{marriage|
[[Himanshu Sharma]]|2021}}
| signature =
| website =
}}

'''Kanika Dhillon''' is an Indian Producer, author and screenwriter known for her significant contributions in the Indian Entertainment industry. While her writing journey began with the best selling novel, ''Bombay Duck is a Fish'' (2011), which was launched by Shah Rukh Khan; she followed with two successive and acclaimed novels soon after, ''Shiva and the Rise of the Shadows'' (2013), and the drama ''The Dance of Durga'' (2016).

It was in 2018, with popular romantic drama ''[[Manmarziyaan]]'' (2018) , that Kanika gained widespread recognition as a screenwriter. After that came a series of successes in her filmography with iconic characters and films like ''[[Manmarziyaan]]'' (2018) , ''[[Kedarnath]]'' (2018) , ''[[Judgementall Hai Kya]]'' (2019) , ''[[Guilty]]'' (2020) , ''[[Haseen Dillruba]]'' (2021) , ''[[Rashmi Rocket]]'' (2021) and ''[[Raksha Bandhan]]'' (2022)

In 2023, Dhillon transitioned into the role of a producer, by founding her production house, [https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/kanika-dhillons-kathha-pictures-maiden-project-do-patti-featuring-kajol-and-kriti-sanon-goes-on-floors-today-13013082.html Kathha Pictures]. Under her production banner, she has written and produced the highly anticipated film [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/do-patti/movieshow/101520273.cms Do Patti], featuring renowned actors Kajol and Kriti Sanon. [https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/do-patti-kriti-sanon-reunites-with-kajol-after-8-years-for-first-project-as-producer]

==Life and career==
Kanika Dhillon was born in [[Amritsar]], and after completing her undergraduate education from [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], she pursued a master's degree at the [[London School of Economics]]. Soon after graduating, she relocated to Mumbai and worked as a script supervisor for [[Shah Rukh Khan]]'s production company [[Red Chillies Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/CUD6e26zscPsa0bRVNrZBJ/The-inconvenient-surname.html|title=The inconvenient surname| last=Sharma|first=Sanjukta|date=9 June 2011|newspaper=Mint|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> She went on to serve as an assistant director for the company's 2007 film ''[[Om Shanti Om]]''.<ref name="srk">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/SRK-is-selfless-Kanika-Dhillon/articleshow/8903717.cms|title=SRK is selfless: Kanika Dhillon|date=19 June 2011|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100712/ttlife1.htm|title=Something fishy! |last= Khurana |first=Manpriya|work=The Tribune|date=12 July 2010|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> After working as a script supervisor for another one of the company's production, the comedy-drama ''[[Billu]]'' (2009), Dhillon went on to write for two television series, the [[Ndtv Imagine|NDTV Imagine]] sitcom ''[[Ghar Ki Baat Hai]]'' (2009) and the [[Disney India]] children's show ''[[Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De]]'' (2010–2011).<ref>{{cite news|last=Kapoor|first=Jasikaran|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/in-the-kings-company/|title=In the Kings Company|date=8 May 2011|newspaper=The Indian Express|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="high">{{cite news|last=Chowdhary|first=Y. Sunita|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/kanika-dhillon-on-a-creative-high/article7194383.ece|title=On a creative high|date=11 May 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref>

In 2011, Dhillon published her first novel, the satire ''Bombay Duck is a Fish'', about Neki Brar, a girl aspiring for a career in [[Bollywood|Hindi films]]. The book was launched by Shah Rukh Khan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bombay-duck-is-a-fish-novel-brought-to-mind-my-own-journey-says-shah-rukh-khan-1552099|title='Bombay Duck is a Fish' novel brought to mind my own journey, says Shah Rukh Khan|date=7 June 2011|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> Reviewing the book for ''[[Daily News and Analysis]]'', Rupa Gulab found it to be "a racy and witty lowdown on peer politics, star egos, sleaze, love rats, spot boys, junior artistes, ‘gora’ extras, etc."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review-book-review-kanika-dhillon-s-bombay-duck-is-a-fish-1559159|title=Book review: Kanika Dhillon's 'Bombay Duck Is A Fish'|last=Gulab|first=Rupa|date=26 June 2011|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> Rashi Tiwari of [[News18]] commented that the book "is written with a light touch but nevertheless strikes a chord with not just Bollywood aspirants but also those looking for a fantastical getaway."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/books/bombay-duck-is-a-fish-strikes-a-chord-377540.html|title='Bombay Duck is a Fish' strikes a chord|last=Tiwary|first=Rashi|date=20 June 2011|website=[[News18]]|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> Also that year, she served as a screenwriter for the superhero film ''[[Ra.One]]'', directed by [[Anubhav Sinha]] and starring Khan.<ref name="srk"/><ref name="parkar">{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/jul/030710-Ra-One-Kanika-Dhillon-Shah-Rukh-Khan.htm|title='I wear a heart': Shah Rukh's favourite line in Ra.One has been penned by Kanika Dhillon, one of the screenplay and dialogue writers of his superhero film|last=Parkar|first=Shaheen|date=3 July 2010|newspaper=[[Mid-Day]]|accessdate=19 December 2010}}</ref>

For her prime accomplishments, ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' honoured Dhillon in 2012 at their annual youth summit "Top 30 Under 30".<ref>{{cite news|last=Sandhu|first=Rameshinder Singh|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/writing-defines-me/story-c9fvYPm6dkZp8XqWLduzsN.html|title='Writing defines me'|date=18 September 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> Following ''Ra.One'', Dhillon was keen to write a superhero novel aimed at teenagers. Inspired by the doomsday theories of 2012, she released her next book, ''Shiva & The Rise of The Shadows'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idiva.com/interviews-work-life/best-selling-author-kanika-dhillon-on-her-new-book-and-life-as-a-writer-diva-in-focus/25286|title=Best-Selling Author Kanika Dhillon on Her New Book and Life as a Writer|last=Luis|first=Vanessa|date=28 October 2013|publisher=iDiva|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> In 2015, she served as the writer for the [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]]–[[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] bilingual comedy ''[[Size Zero]]'', which starred [[Anushka Shetty]] as an overweight woman who admits herself to a weight loss clinic. Initially written for Hindi film, it was eventually made in [[Cinema of South India|South India]] after Dhillon's husband, the filmmaker [[Prakash Kovelamudi]], liked the script and directed it himself.<ref name="high"/>

Dhillon's third novel, ''The Dance of Durga'', was released in 2016. It tells the story of Rajjo, a naive young woman who transforms into a [[Godman (India)|Godwoman]].<ref name="expression">{{cite news|last=Dundoo|first= Sangeetha Devi|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Kanika-Dhillon-Writing-is-my-creative-expression/article14257188.ece|title=Kanika Dhillon: Writing is my creative expression|date=25 April 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> In a review for ''Hindustan Times'', Khushboo Shukla labelled the book "gripping" and commended Dhillon for successfully exploring faith and culture of rural India.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/the-dance-of-durga-a-tale-of-faith-desire-and-passion/story-BUaEXlbU7geMqdcyOphaQP.html|title=The Dance of Durga: A tale of faith, desire and passion|date=31 May 2016|newspaper=Hindustan Times|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> Deepa Suryanarayan of ''[[Femina (India)|Femina]]'' praised the complex character of Rajjo and wrote that despite the character's misdeeds, she had empathised with Rajjo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.femina.in/books/the-dance-of-durga-by-kanika-dhillon-is-a-gripping-read-6998.html|title=Book review:The Dance Of Durga|last=Suryanarayan|first=Deepa|date=8 June 2016|work=[[Femina (India)|Femina]]|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref>

Dhillon has written the scripts for the 2018 Hindi films {{mdash}}[[Anurag Kashyap]]'s drama ''[[Manmarziyaan]]'', starring [[Abhishek Bachchan]], [[Taapsee Pannu]], and [[Vicky Kaushal]]; and [[Abhishek Kapoor]]'s romance ''[[Kedarnath (film)|Kedarnath]]'', starring [[Sushant Singh Rajput]] and [[Sara Ali Khan]].<ref name="expression"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/mental-hai-kya-kangana-ranaut-is-having-a-gala-time-in-london-heres-proof-1870415|title=Mental Hai Kya: Kangana Ranaut Is Having A Gala Time In London|last=Bhowal|first=Tiasa|date=20 June 2018|publisher=NDTV|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/top-7-facts-about-sara-ali-khan-sushant-singh-rajput-starrer-kedarnath-735126|title=Top 7 facts about Sara Ali Khan-Sushant Singh Rajput starrer Kedarnath|last=Kazi|first=Pinaz|date=18 July 2017|work=International Business Times|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref>

She has also written the script of her husband's satire on mental illness, ''[[Judgemental Hai Kya]]'', starring [[Kangana Ranaut]] and [[Rajkummar Rao]]. During promotion of ''Judgemental Hai Kya'', director Prakash Kovelamudi and Kanika announced their separation and said they had already separated two years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |date=2019 |title="Judgemental Hai Kya is quirky!" – Kanika Dhillon |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ryCuVv99C8&t=1s |accessdate=2019-06-25 |publisher=Kovid Gupta Films}}</ref>

==Controversy==
Right wing [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalists]] started a [[Hashtag activism|Twitter campaign]] to boycott the film [[Raksha Bandhan (film)|''Raksha Bandhan'']] (2022), which Dhillon wrote the screenplay for, the campaign was against her past tweets where she had mocked the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|Modi government]] (some Tweets contained offensive references to [[gomutra]]); these Tweets were later deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Bushra |date=2022-08-03 |title=Kanika Dhillon deletes 'Hinduphobic' tweets amid #BoycottRakshaBandhanMovie trend |url=https://www.siasat.com/kanika-dhillon-deletes-hinduphobic-tweets-amid-boycottrakshabandhanmovie-trend-2382508/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=[[The Siasat Daily]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kanika married her first husband, director [[Prakash Kovelamudi]], in 2014 and divorced him in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/gossip/story/judgementall-hai-kya-writer-kanika-dhillon-ended-marriage-with-prakash-kovelamudi-2-years-ago-1576068-2019-08-01|title=Judgementall Hai Kya writer Kanika Dhillon: Ended marriage with Prakash Kovelamudi 2 years ago}}</ref> In January 2021, Kanika married [[Himanshu Sharma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/fashion-and-trends/famed-bollywood-writers-kanika-dhillon-himanshu-sharma-get-married-with-simplicity-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-see-pics/story-7PVP5bCez50z3KCLaxURZL.html|title=Famed Bollywood writers Kanika Dhillon, Himanshu Sharma set Covid-wedding goals with simple and intimate nuptials. See pics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/akshay-kumar-bhumi-pednekars-rakshabandhan-is-himanshu-sharma-kanika-dhillons-first-collaboration-7353784/|title=Akshay Kumar-Bhumi Pednekar's Rakshabandhan is writers Himanshu Sharma-Kanika Dhillon's first collaboration}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* ''Bombay Duck is a Fish'' (2011)
* ''Shiva and the Rise of the Shadows'' (2013)
* ''The Dance of Durga'' (2016)

== Filmography ==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Film
! scope="col"|Credit
! class="unsortable" scope="col"|Notes
|-
|2007
!scope="row"|''[[Om Shanti Om]]''
|Assistant director
|
|-
|2009
!scope="row"|''[[Billu]]''
|Script supervisor
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011
!scope="row"|''[[Always Kabhi Kabhi]]''
|Additional screenplay
|
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Ra.One]]''
|Screenplay and dialogues
|
|-
|2015
!scope="row"|''[[Size Zero]]''
|Screenplay
|[[Telugu cinema|Telugu]]–[[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] bilingual film
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018
!scope="row"|''[[Manmarziyaan]]''
|rowspan="5"|Story, screenplay and dialogues
|
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Kedarnath (film)|Kedarnath]]''
|
|-
|2019
!scope="row"|''[[Judgementall Hai Kya]]''
|
|-
|2020
!scope="row"|''[[Guilty (2020 film)|Guilty]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Netflix]] release
|-
|rowspan=2|2021
!scope="row"|''[[Haseen Dillruba]]''
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Rashmi Rocket]]''
|Screenplay and dialogues
|[[ZEE5]] release
|-
|rowspan=2|2022
!scope="row"|''[[Ek Villain Returns]]''
| rowspan="3" |Story
|
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Raksha Bandhan (film)|Raksha Bandhan]]''
|
|-
|2023
!scope="row"|''[[Dunki (film)|Dunki]]''
|
|}

===Television===
* ''[[Ghar Ki Baat Hai]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De]]'' (2010–2011)

== References ==
[https://www.missmalini.com/2011/06/10/shah-rukh-khan-unveils-kanika-dhillons-book-bombay-duck-is-a-fish/amp]{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|2837117}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dhillon, Kanika}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women television writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Amritsar]]
[[Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:Indian women screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian television writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Indian women novelists]]
[[Category:1982 births]]

Kanika Dhillon - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 18:55, 27 September 2023